Kataeb Political Bureau member Joelle Bou Abboud said Lebanon's long-term stability and recovery depend on ending the State's coexistence with armed groups and placing all weapons under the exclusive authority of the government, arguing that any future settlement that leaves Hezbollah's arsenal outside state control will fail to resolve the country's underlying crisis.

Speaking on the Hashtag Beirut program on the Elsiyasa Plus platform, Bou Abboud criticized what she described as a distorted understanding of "victory" among Iran and its proxies, saying the concept has been stripped of its traditional meaning.

"The idea of victory has become so distorted in Lebanon and Iran that it can no longer be measured by any normal or logical standard," she said. "Some people consider themselves victorious no matter what happens—whether they win, are killed, see their neighborhoods destroyed, are forced from their homes, lose their leaders, or watch their military capabilities dismantled."

Bou Abboud said some political forces have portrayed Iran as having secured a victory by obtaining a ceasefire for Lebanon, but argued that no genuine ceasefire currently exists.

She maintained that the achievements recorded before April 11 were primarily the result of efforts by the Lebanese state, which, in coordination with the United States, succeeded in securing a halt to hostilities in Beirut and protecting state institutions from being targeted.

"It's unfortunate that whenever the Lebanese state achieves something through negotiations, it comes under attack, while any achievement attributed to Iran is celebrated," she said.

According to Bou Abboud, this reflects the extent of loyalty to the Iranian axis within parts of Lebanon.

"Hezbollah is inseparable from Iran and from the Iranian regime," she said.

She stressed that Lebanese citizens are not obligated to align themselves with any regional camp and that Lebanon's national interest should remain the sole guiding principle.

"Lebanon is not a party to the negotiations taking place between the United States and Iran," she said. "Those talks concern the parties sitting at the table, although their outcome may affect Lebanon just as it affects other countries in the region."

Bou Abboud said Lebanon's immediate priorities include securing a ceasefire, ensuring an Israeli withdrawal, bringing prisoners home, and launching reconstruction efforts. However, she argued that the country's most important objective remains establishing the state's exclusive authority over weapons.

"Any agreement that does not place Hezbollah's weapons under the authority of the Lebanese state will not provide a fundamental solution to the problem," she said.

She accused Hezbollah of repeatedly changing the conditions under which it would consider relinquishing its arsenal.

"If the Israeli occupation ended in 2000, why weren't the weapons handed over then?" she asked. "Over the years, the justification changed from the occupation, to Shebaa Farms, to the war in Syria, then Jerusalem and Gaza, and now Iran. For Hezbollah, weapons have become part of its ideology."

Bou Abboud said Lebanese society has changed significantly and is no longer willing to accept the political model that prevailed over previous decades.

"Most Lebanese do not want to go back to a state whose decisions are held hostage by Hezbollah," she said. "They don't want a country that repeatedly enters wars and forces its economy and young people to pay the price. They want a state built on stability, prosperity and peace."

Addressing Iran's role in Lebanon, Bou Abboud said the country's strategic objective should be to sever its connection to Tehran's regional agenda.

She argued that Iran continues to use Lebanon as a bargaining chip in its negotiations with the West and that Hezbollah was originally created as part of that broader project.

"The only body that represents us is the Lebanese state—not Hezbollah and not Iran," she said. "There are two competing visions in Lebanon: the logic of the militia and the logic of the state. We stand with the state and with Lebanese legitimacy."

Bou Abboud also weighed in on U.S.-Iran negotiations, saying she believes President Donald Trump's primary goal is to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

The key question, she said, is whether any future agreement will address Iran's regional proxies, including Hezbollah, and whether it will result in reduced funding for those groups or encourage them to integrate into legitimate state institutions.

Responding to Hezbollah's political positions, Bou Abboud argued that the party and its allies remain the only political forces in Lebanon willing to accept the continued existence of an armed organization operating outside state control.

She said the overwhelming majority of Lebanese political parties, across sectarian lines, support the establishment of a normal state in which weapons are held exclusively by legitimate institutions.

At the same time, she stressed the importance of distinguishing between Hezbollah and Lebanon's Shiite community.

"There are many Shiites who oppose Hezbollah's policies," she said, noting that the Amal Movement also differs with Hezbollah on a range of issues.

On the issue of peace with Israel, Bou Abboud rejected the notion that peace would come at the expense of Lebanon's sovereignty or national dignity.

"Peace does not mean surrendering sovereignty or dignity," she said. "It means reaching an agreement that protects Lebanon's dignity, sovereignty, borders and territory."

She argued that the era of perpetual conflict must come to an end.

"The logic of endless wars is no longer acceptable," she said. "No one is capable of eliminating the other side or throwing them into the sea."

Turning to domestic politics, Bou Abboud described the current Lebanese government as one of the most sovereign and nationally minded administrations in recent years.

She criticized those who align themselves with foreign powers while questioning the patriotism of others.

"Anyone who ties themselves to another country has no right to lecture Lebanese citizens about patriotism," she said. "The choice we support is a purely Lebanese one."

Bou Abboud called for continued negotiations and diplomacy, arguing that political engagement remains the most effective path to protecting Lebanon's interests and recovering its rights.

"Weapons have not delivered the results Hezbollah claims they have," she said. "Lebanon was not occupied before 2023, but the support wars created a completely different reality."

She concluded by saying the Lebanese State must continue diplomatic efforts while simultaneously implementing its commitments to place all weapons under state authority.

"There are many steps the State can take to dismantle Hezbollah's system of influence within Lebanese institutions," she said.

"The ultimate goal is a strong State with one source of legitimacy and one authority over arms; a State that protects the dignity of its people and guarantees freedom, stability and peace."