Shahada: Hezbollah must put its weapons in the Lebanese basket, not the Iranian one

Minister of Displaced and Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence Dr. Kamal Shahada affirmed that "the Lebanese government has a clear plan to address the current situation," pointing out that "President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun is the one who negotiates and decides the fate of Lebanon, and that there is an internal political path that is not the concern of Naim Qassem or any Iranian official."

In response to Hezbollah's call for the state to change its approach to Tehran and benefit from Iranian support, Shahada said: "It is ironic that some politicians say we must benefit from what Iran is doing after the destruction it dragged Lebanon into."

Shahada considered in an interview with Al Arabiya that "Lebanon was dragged into the war to support Gaza and support Iran, leading to the displacement of more than one million 300 thousand people and the destruction of dozens of villages."

Shahada stressed that "the government's positions regarding the monopoly of weapons in the hands of the state are firm," reminding that "the ministerial statement affirmed this principle and the government won confidence on its basis, including from the deputies and ministers of the Shiite duo as well," and said: "Neither Naim Qassem's weapons nor Iran's missiles affect the military equation."

On the southern file, he said: "Israel occupies Lebanese territories and poses a threat to Lebanon through shelling and displacement."

He explained that "the state has chosen the diplomatic option, which is the best option," affirming "the existence of international and American support to arrange Israel's withdrawal, reconstruction, and the return of the people," and said: "The option of war is a failed and losing option, as the war cost Lebanon about 4,000 dead and more than 12,000 wounded."

He pointed out that "there are two tracks the state is working on: the first is diplomatic, led by the President of the Republic, and the second is extending state authority over Lebanese territories and controlling illegal weapons."

Regarding the dialogue on weapons, Shahada said: "Hezbollah is preparing for concessions within an Iranian basket, not a Lebanese one."

He called on the party to "put its weapons in the Lebanese basket," considering that "Lebanon should not be part of the American-Iranian or Israeli-Iranian negotiation."

He affirmed that "Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri is a key partner in this stage," pointing out that "he supports the option of monopolizing weapons while arranging matters starting from a ceasefire, which constitutes the official Lebanese position."

He also saw that "the ideas that were raised regarding the south must be coupled with actions on the ground," stressing that "what is required today is a ceasefire and the start of implementing the experimental zones and handing them over to the Lebanese army," considering that "this will prove that the solution is diplomatic."

On the economic front, Shahada praised "the decision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to resume Lebanese exports to it," affirming that "this step reflects the strength of relations between the two countries and will give a boost to the Lebanese economy."