Washington, DC—May 27, 2026. The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) strongly believes that an agreement between the United States and Iran should contribute not only to nuclear de-escalation, but also to broader regional stability by addressing Tehran’s support for armed non-state actors who continue to undermine sovereignty and fuel instability across the region, particularly in Lebanon.
Reports that current talks are focused on securing a temporary ceasefire tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz and broader negotiations centered on the nuclear file underscore the importance of ensuring that Tehran’s support for regional proxies is also meaningfully addressed. This comes at a consequential moment for Lebanon, which faces a rare but fragile opportunity to restore state authority, consolidate the ceasefire, advance efforts to address Hezbollah’s arms, and pursue a diplomatic path away from repeated cycles of conflict. Without credible safeguards, expanded oil revenues and financial relief risk giving Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups renewed financial and operational space just as efforts are underway to reinforce Lebanese sovereignty, strengthen state institutions, secure Lebanon’s borders, and advance a more sustainable framework to end the Lebanon-Israel conflict.
ATFL commends President Donald Trump and supports his efforts to avoid a broader regional war and pursue diplomatic de-escalation. As peace negotiations move forward, ensuring that any arrangement includes credible mechanisms to eliminate the financing, arming, and operational support of regional proxies will be essential to supporting Lebanese sovereignty, reinforcing state institutions, and advancing long-term stability.
Hezbollah is not simply another regional militia, it remains Iran’s most capable and strategically important proxy, with deeply entrenched military, financial, and logistical networks that operate outside Lebanese state authority. Any substantial financial windfall flowing to Tehran will undermine ongoing efforts to stabilize Lebanon, strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces, and reinforce Lebanese state institutions.
This concern is particularly acute at a time when the Lebanese government, together with its international partners, is attempting to restore good governance, rebuild a functioning banking sector, curb illicit financing networks, and reverse the expansion of a parallel cash economy that has weakened state oversight, facilitated corruption, and enabled Hezbollah’s financial activity.
Ultimately, durable regional stability will require stronger (sovereign) state institutions, with non-state actors like Hezbollah disempowered, illicit financial networks curtailed, plus long-term political and economic stabilization across the region. For Lebanon, these efforts will be essential to the country making a full recovery.