Lebanese Member of Parliament Ali Fayyad, from the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc, confirmed that the United States was exerting increasing pressure on the Lebanese government regarding the issue of Resistance arms, particularly Hezbollah’s arsenal.

In an interview with Al Mayadeen, Fayyad revealed that Washington was pushing for a timeline to dismantle the Resistance’s weapons, under the guise of a “step-by-step” framework.

According to Fayyad, the US has informed Lebanese officials that it expects an answer from the government as early as next week on whether it agrees to such a phased disarmament deal. “The Americans are also attempting to blackmail Lebanon through threats to its eastern border security,” he warned.

Disarmament demands seen as pressure tactic

While Fayyad acknowledged that discussing the principle of “step-for-step” could be possible, he emphasized that Lebanon must confront such demands with strength and self-confidence. “Lebanon is not weak,” he stressed, asserting that the issue of the Resistance’s arms remains a sovereign matter to be addressed by the Lebanese state.

He added that any resolution would have to follow a full withdrawal of the Israeli occupation from all Lebanese territory, underlining that discussions on the Resistance’s role were closely tied to the state’s broader confrontation with "Israel."

On martyr Ramadan and the Gaza connection

Fayyad also spoke about the recent martyrdom of senior commander Mohammad Said Izadi, known as Hajj Ramadan, describing him as a pivotal figure in the regional Resistance movement. He noted that his visit to Gaza recalls similar trips made by late Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, who frequently supported the Palestinian Resistance.

He emphasized that Hajj Ramadan’s martyrdom would not mark a disruption in Resistance activity, as “many capable cadres continue in his footsteps.”

Iran exposes Western double standards

Commenting on the recent war waged on Iran, Fayyad told Al Mayadeen that Tehran emerged victorious, having reinforced its deterrence capabilities while denying "Israel" its war objectives. He dismissed Western claims that Iran controls regional "proxies," insisting that Iran's allies act with full independence and mutual respect.

“Iran paid a high price for standing with Resistance movements in the region,” he said. “Had it focused solely on domestic matters, it would have already become a regional leader—but it chooses to bear the burden for the sake of defending justice.”

Fayyad concluded with a pointed remark: “Why is it illegitimate for us to be allies of Iran and receive its support, while Western powers openly arm and protect Israel?”

Sayyed Khamenei lauds Iran's victory

Following "Israel's" abrupt declaration of a unilateral ceasefire, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, addressed the Iranian nation on Thursday to celebrate a decisive victory for the Islamic Republic over its aggressors, "Israel" and the United States.

The televised speech marked Sayyed Khamenei's third public message since "Israel" launched its unprovoked assault on Iran's nuclear infrastructure on June 13. The Leader praised the courage and capability of Iran's armed forces, as well as the resilience and unity of the Iranian people in the face of combined Israeli-American hostility.

"I feel it is necessary to extend several congratulations to the great Iranian nation. First, congratulations on the victory over the artificial Zionist regime. Despite all its noise and claims, the Zionist regime was nearly brought to its knees and crushed under the blows of the Islamic Republic," Sayyed Khamenei declared.

Iran Strikes Back

He further celebrated Iran's firm response to Washington's involvement in the conflict. After the United States, under Donald Trump's leadership, launched illegal attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities in an attempt to tip the balance in favor of its Zionist ally, Iran responded with powerful retaliatory strikes.

"The US entered the war directly because it feared that if it didn't, the Zionist regime would be completely destroyed," he said. "It intervened to save them but gained nothing from the war."

Iran's targeting of Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, one of America's most strategic regional military hubs, was a bold move that stunned Washington. Sayyed Khamenei condemned the US attack on nuclear sites as a war crime deserving international legal action.

"Anyone who heard his remarks could sense that behind those words lay a very different truth," he said, referring to Trump's bluster after the attack. "They failed to achieve their objectives, and they inflated their claims to conceal the reality."