Following a 45-minute meeting between a Hezbollah parliamentary delegation and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at the Grand Serail on Tuesday, MP Mohammad Raad reaffirmed Hezbollah's commitment to cooperation, dialogue, and national priorities, particularly as Lebanon continues to suffer from the aftermath of Israeli aggression and repeated violations of the ceasefire.

Raad, head of the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc in parliament, stated that the issue of arms is being approached with seriousness and pragmatism. "The issue of (Resistance) arms is being discussed objectively, in a way that preserves the country's interest and the choices of its people in confronting any Israeli aggression that threatens the nation's security and stability," he said.

These remarks come as Israeli forces have reportedly violated the ceasefire more than 2,700 times since November 2024, killing nearly 200 and wounding hundreds more, figures confirmed by UN sources and widely reported across Lebanese media.

Read more: Hezbollah, UN envoy discuss risks near Blue Line, Resolution 1701

Hezbollah's stated priorities remain clear and consistent. "Our priority is ending the occupation, returning the prisoners, addressing violations, and launching reconstruction," Raad said.

Yet while these goals align with urgent national needs, Lebanon's ability to rebuild has been severely constrained. Reconstruction funding, estimated at over $11 billion, has been slow to materialize, with international donors and institutions calling for major reforms.

While the IMF and World Bank have stressed economic restructuring, some Western governments have indirectly linked aid to reducing Hezbollah’s power and advancing normalization with "Israel", conditions the movement rejects as infringements on Lebanese sovereignty.

Read more: No normalization in Lebanon: Hezbollah Political Bureau member

Raad made clear that Hezbollah's guiding compass is the national interest, not foreign-imposed conditions or internal political speculation. "Our country's interest comes above all else, and we think of it regardless of all the incitement being circulated," he stressed.

Constructive dialogue

Addressing recent media claims of tension between Hezbollah and the prime minister, Raad dismissed the narrative as baseless. "Differences do not ruin mutual respect," he said. "We don't base our positions on emotions or preconceived judgments, but evaluate the performance of each official and every person entrusted with national responsibilities."

He described the atmosphere of the meeting as constructive and forward-looking. "The meeting with the Prime Minister lasted 45 minutes, during which we discussed a wide range of issues, including reform, which we are among the most committed to," Raad noted. "We entered and left with smiles, as we hold no ill will and are keen on maintaining understanding with the Prime Minister."

Raad added that the discussion went beyond expectations. "We addressed many issues we didn't expect we would." Regarding post-war reconstruction, he confirmed Hezbollah had offered specific, actionable proposals.

"We presented detailed practical ideas on the reconstruction issue and stressed the importance of the government approaching this file with a stronger tone and greater focus." He concluded by noting that "an agreement was reached on a step related to reconstruction, which may begin after the holidays."

استقبل رئيس #مجلس_الوزراء الدكتور #نواف_سلام عند الثالثة من بعد ظهر اليوم في السرايا وفدا من كتلة الوفاء للمقاومة برئاسة رئيس الكتلة النائب محمد رعد وفي حضور النواب: حسين الحاج حسن، أمين شري، ابراهيم الموسوي وحسن فضل الله وتم خلال اللقاء
البحث في الاوضاع العامة وفي مسألة… pic.twitter.com/EMzfregrXK

, رئاسة مجلس الوزراء 🇱🇧 (@grandserail) June 4, 2025