Hezbollah’s frustration with Prime Minister Salam grows over sovereignty and reform agenda

BEIRUT — Tensions are escalating between Hezbollah and Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam as the Shiite group expresses mounting frustration with Salam’s firm stance on state sovereignty and political reform.

The rift was highlighted during a televised interview with senior Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad, head of the party’s parliamentary bloc. When asked about Prime Minister Salam’s recent statements — declaring that “the era of exporting the Iranian revolution is over” and rejecting “silence over any weapons outside state authority” —Raad responded curtly, “I will not comment on this statement in order to preserve what remains of goodwill.”

Raad made the remark after leading a Hezbollah delegation to meet President Joseph Aoun, emphasizing that “there are no closed doors when it comes to discussions with His Excellency the President.”

Though Raad avoided direct confrontation, the tone and timing of his remarks hinted at deeper underlying tensions. Sources close to the government indicate that Hezbollah’s dissatisfaction with Salam goes beyond the issue of disarmament. It extends to broader policies introduced by the current administration, including new oversight protocols at Rafik Hariri International Airport, viewed by the party as a restriction on Iranian cash inflows, and delays in reconstruction projects tied to international donor demands for political and economic reforms.

“This isn’t just about weapons,” a ministerial source told Asharq al-Awsat. “Hezbollah is also frustrated with the airport procedures and the lack of immediate access to reconstruction funding.” The source added:

“Salam’s mission is clear — he aims to reform and rescue the country. That means restoring the state’s monopoly on arms, rebuilding trust, and attracting investment. None of that is possible without full state authority.”

رئيس كتلة الوفاء للمقاومة، النائب محمد رعد، من قصر بعبدا:
– تداولنا مع رئيس الجمهورية في مسألة حفظ السيادة الوطنية، وضرورة إنهاء الاحتلال الإسرائيلي، ووقف الخروقات المتكررة.
– تطرقنا إلى ملف إعادة الإعمار، وأكدنا أهمية حفظ الاستقرار وتحرير المؤسسات عبر الالتزام بالاستحقاقات… pic.twitter.com/h1JPXdKvJc

— Lebanese Presidency (@LBpresidency) May 26, 2025

Analysts suggest that Hezbollah is reviving an old strategy: creating a distinction between the presidency and the premiership. “They’re playing the dual-track game again,” the source explained. “Maintaining good terms with the president while fostering friction with the prime minister.”

Dr. Qassem Qasir, a political analyst with close ties to Hezbollah, acknowledged the growing discomfort in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, stating:

“It’s clear there is significant irritation within Hezbollah toward the prime minister. His recent remarks have heightened tensions. However, Raad refrained from escalating to keep dialogue open and avoid a rupture.”

Qasir noted that while President Aoun supports dialogue and opposes foreign pressure, Salam’s rhetoric is perceived by Hezbollah as confrontational. “He sounded as if he were presenting a position paper to the West,” Qasir added.

The tension has been further aggravated by Salam’s administration enforcing measures at Beirut’s airport that restrict unregulated financial flows. Hezbollah views these actions as a direct challenge, particularly in the context of increasing financial constraints and the pressing needs of post-war reconstruction.

The political discord has also spilled into the streets. At a recent sports event, fans of the Nejmeh football club chanted offensive slogans targeting Prime Minister Salam. Hezbollah quickly distanced itself from the incident, with its Media Relations Office issuing a statement condemning the chants as “unacceptable and disgraceful,” stressing that such behavior “does not serve national unity or internal stability.”

Despite the rising tensions, Salam remains committed to his reform agenda. In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), he celebrated the reopening of the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, calling it “a symbol of resilience” and highlighting the role of sports as a unifying force “connecting people of all affiliations.”

بسرور كبير شاركت في إعادة الحياة إلى مدينة كميل شمعون الرياضية في بيروت، حيث تعود الأنشطة الرياضية لتجسد روح الوحدة والتآخي بين الجميع. الرياضة ليست فقط منافسة، بل هي جسر يجمع الناس على اختلاف انتماءاتهم، وهي التي تزيل الحواجز وتعزز اواصر المحبة والسلام. pic.twitter.com/Db1w7hznaj

— Nawaf Salam نواف سلام (@nawafasalam) May 23, 2025

While Hezbollah continues to participate in the government and had previously endorsed the policy statement addressing disarmament and reform priorities, its relationship with Salam appears to be entering a turbulent phase.