Head of the Kataeb Party's Foreign Affairs Department Marwan Abdallah launched a sweeping critique of Iran and Hezbollah on Thursday, accusing the Islamic Republic of defining victory in distorted terms and warning that Lebanon cannot recover unless Hezbollah is disarmed and the state reasserts control.

In an interview with LBCI, Abdallah dismissed recent remarks by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei hailing Tehran’s "triumph" in the recent 12-day war against Israel, calling them “delusional.”

“The problem with the Iran-led axis is their skewed definition of victory,” Abdallah said in an interview on LBCI. “They always declare themselves victorious, even if a single person remains alive.”

He cited Iran’s repeated threats of “hellish” consequences for any attack on its leadership.

“They warned that Khamenei’s assassination would lead to hell, and that never happened,” he said. “The truth is, Iran did not win. The United States and Israel did.”

Abdallah emphasized that, as a Lebanese citizen, his first concern is Lebanon, adding that Iran still uses Lebanon as the first line of defense to serve its own interests.

“My concern as a Lebanese citizen is Lebanon, and the external force that is hurting it most is Iran, using it as a frontline platform.”

Abdallah said Hezbollah is in no position to engage in war again given that it suffered significant losses in the recent conflict, including the elimination of commanders and the degradation of its military arsenal.

“Hezbollah's support base will not accept sacrificing itself once more for a regime that didn't reciprocate. Iran didn't do anything even when Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah was targeted.”

“Nasrallah had always considered himself a soldier of the Supreme Leader and acted solely in the interest of the Iranian regime. Hezbollah used to be the strongest Iran-backed faction, training Houthis and serving Tehran’s goals. But it never reached the point where it dictated decisions to the entire axis," he explained. 

Abdallah stated that any potential deal between Israel and Iran would differ significantly from one between Israel and Lebanon.

“There might be limits imposed on Iran’s arms imports and economic leverage,” he said. “When Iran felt cornered, it threatened to shut down the Strait of Hormuz. Many countries have a vested interest in making sure Iran cannot influence the global economy at will.”

He said U.S. President Donald Trump was not interested in humiliating Iran, but in securing a deal to protect U.S. allies.

“Trump is a businessman. He doesn’t need to declare Iran’s defeat. He wants an agreement to protect the Arab world and Israel from nuclear weapons.”

He described Iran’s missile strike on a U.S. base in Qatar as “a Hollywood-style stunt” and argued that Tehran’s main weapon is time.

“Iran is a dictatorship that suppresses its people, whereas other countries have democracies and elections,” he said. “The regime bet on time, but Trump wants a deal—and it will happen. We deserve guarantees for our safety.”

On the Palestinian issue, Abdallah said it remains central to peace in the region and pointed to Saudi Arabia’s efforts to promote a two-state solution.

Turning to Lebanon, Abdallah outlined three major challenges: fixing the economy, disarming Hezbollah, and disarming Palestinian factions. He stressed the importance of aligning Lebanon with a broader Arab vision, likely shaped by Saudi Arabia, and focusing on domestic priorities.

“Reactivating the state requires proper governance, capable personnel, and reforms starting with serious legislation,” he said. “But the most important pillar is disarming Hezbollah. Everything hinges on that.”

He described the upcoming parliamentary elections as “decisive,” adding that the new legislature must reassess Lebanon’s governance, foreign relations, and identity.

“The parliamentary elections will be a turning point. The outcome will shape Lebanon’s fate for the next hundred years. The new parliament must reassess Lebanon’s direction, administration, and foreign policy.”

On the expatriate voting issue, Abdallah reaffirmed full support for granting Lebanese abroad the right to vote for all 128 members of parliament.

“Restricting them to six seats is an insult to their intelligence,” he said. “Those opposing full voting rights are simply afraid of losing parliamentary seats. They block any reform that threatens their power, but we will continue pressing until the expats get full voting rights.”

“We’re moving in that direction, and there’s no doubt we’ll reach a fair solution. The parties opposing this do so out of narrow interest and fear of the diaspora’s voice. Expats will hold accountable those who ruled Lebanon for the past two decades.”

Abdallah also backed the implementation of “megacenters” to help eliminate voter intimidation and bribery, and called for stronger gender quotas to boost women’s political representation.

“All of this—diaspora voting, megacenters, women’s participation—is crucial to shaping a responsible and effective parliament,” he said.

On electoral alliances, Abdallah said the Kataeb Party is preparing internally but that it is still too early to announce any coalitions.

“Parliamentary elections are political by nature and differ from municipal contests. We have red lines as we will never ally with anyone who does not believe in Lebanon’s sovereignty. There will be no Kataeb-Hezbollah alliance anywhere in Lebanon.”

He warned that one of the worst outcomes would be the re-election of the current parliament, but said Kataeb would fight to bring in a new legislature.

“Democracy will have the final say, but we will do everything to change this parliament.”

Abdallah reaffirmed Kataeb’s core principle: weapons must be under the sole authority of the state.

“There’s no turning back from this,” he said. “This is rooted in our Constitution and international law. Armed factions cannot be allowed to challenge state authority. Weapons have protected no one: not Lebanon, not its citizens, and not the parties that wield them.”

He said disarmament is key to unlocking international funding and restoring Lebanon’s ties to the Arab world.

He rejected the notion that the Shiite community would be marginalized by disarmament.

“Once arms are handed over, everyone will sit at the same table as equals. Guarantees can be signed later, but first, disarmament must happen. No dialogue can precede it.”

He revealed that President Michel Aoun is prepared to oversee the disarmament process and determine its method and timing. “Speed is key,” he said.

Addressing the slow pace of reform, Abdallah said it is due to Lebanon’s complex political system and external interference.

“Everything is tied to the government’s ability to function and the region’s influence on us. We need to shield Lebanon’s decisions from regional shocks.”

On the appointment of a new financial prosecutor, Abdallah praised Justice Minister Adel Nassar for pushing ahead with reforms.

“He’s trying to put the right people in the right places. Speaker Nabih Berri should support him, not obstruct his efforts,” he said.

Abdallah stressed that Kataeb is not interested in provocation or polarization, but will not abandon its commitment to judicial independence.

“Our path will not change. This is the only road toward justice," he said. “The Justice Ministry doesn’t need massive funding, it needs leadership. Nassar has done more than previous ministers, and his judicial appointments reflect true independence.”

Abdallah concluded with a message of determination: “The Kataeb Party still believes in fixing Lebanon. We support the president, we work with the prime minister, and we don’t give up when we face obstacles.”