Berri’s Envoy in Tehran: Heavy Messages in a Critical Lebanese Moment

Lebanese politics is moving these days to the rhythm of a noteworthy visit by MP Ali Hassan Khalil, the political aide to Speaker Nabih Berri, to Tehran. The visit did not pass unnoticed, especially as it came at a tense political moment amid growing talk of a rift within the Shiite duo—Amal Movement and Hezbollah.

In the Iranian capital, Khalil met with Ali Larijani, head of the Supreme National Security Council and the official tasked by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with overseeing the Lebanese file, as well as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other senior officials. According to informed sources, the meetings were practical rather than ceremonial, with a clear focus on Lebanon’s trajectory in the coming months.

A Public Disagreement Between Amal and Hezbollah

The visit comes in the wake of an unprecedented divergence between the two parties over two key issues:

• The negotiation proposal supported by Speaker Berri and rejected by Hezbollah.

• The Egyptian initiative adopted by Berri and approved by the Lebanese state, while Hezbollah clearly rejected it.

Tensions increased further after Hezbollah sent a letter to the three top state officials, which some political circles described as “written with Iranian ink.” This prompted a corrective statement from the party reinstating Berri’s mandate over negotiation files in an attempt to contain the rift.

Why Tehran Now?

Prominent political sources describe the visit as “unusual in an unusual moment,” noting that Berri wanted to deliver a direct message to Iranian leadership:

“Lebanon can no longer endure; the situation is no longer sustainable.”

The sources highlight that although Berri is part of the Iranian axis, he still has the political margin to speak frankly with Tehran—unlike Hezbollah, which adheres strictly to Iranian directives and does not debate them. This makes the party less capable of conveying Lebanon’s reality as it truly is.

One Year After the Ceasefire… No Reconstruction, No Horizon

The visit comes just days before the first anniversary of the ceasefire in the South, against a bleak backdrop:

• No reconstruction.

• Continued Israeli bombardment.

• A suffocating siege on border villages.

• Israeli preparations for a new war “in various forms.”

Sources warn that any upcoming war would not strike “the party” alone, but the entire Shiite community—and possibly all of Lebanon—prompting Berri to sound the alarm.

What Did Berri’s Envoy Say in Tehran?

According to information circulating in political circles:

Khalil delivered a clear message:

“It is time to neutralize Lebanon. The country cannot withstand another war. A real exit strategy must be explored, including the future of Hezbollah’s weapons.”

Sources note that raising the ceiling in this way reflects the magnitude of fear within the Shiite community itself—fear of continued escalation and of Lebanon sliding into a confrontation that would break all red lines.

But the question remains: Is Tehran actually willing to change its approach?

Iran’s Calculations: A Risky Bet

Analysts suggest that Iran is still betting on:

• The possibility of opening negotiations with Washington at some point.

• The possibility that Israel may eventually be prepared to strike a deal related to the Lebanese front.

But sources close to decision-making circles in Beirut stress:

“Neither the Americans are coming, nor are the Israelis ready for any deal.”

If these assessments are correct, Iran’s continued reliance on this bet may push Lebanon toward a catastrophic scenario.