Former CIA station chief Dan Hoffman warned on Fox News overnight Saturday into Sunday that any future deal with Iran that does not strictly curb Hezbollah would endanger Israel, U.S. interests, and American personnel. Speaking on "Life, Liberty & Levin," he said Hezbollah is a central instrument in Iran’s regional power projection, alongside the Houthis and militias in Iraq.
Hoffman said Iran has used those proxy forces to show strength "in the region and beyond it," adding, "This is what puts Israel at great risk, but not only Israel. Also American facilities and our people in the region and beyond it." He said the biggest danger is that Hezbollah could emerge from a diplomatic agreement with Tehran able to rearm and rebuild.
"The last thing we want is for Hezbollah to come out of any agreement we have with Iran in a position that allows it to rearm and recover," Hoffman said. He argued that the concern is not only existing weapons, but Hezbollah’s logistical and production capacity, which could be restored under cover of diplomatic calm.
His comments came against the backdrop of ongoing cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah and a fragile ceasefire based on indirect talks between the United States and Iran. Hoffman said any accord without close monitoring would amount to little more than a temporary pause, allowing Hezbollah to return stronger and better equipped than before.
