Hezbollah Signals No War Involvement Amidst Iran-US Tensions

Hezbollah has informed Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri that it does not intend to join Iran in a potential new war with the United States and Israel. Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported on Saturday, October 24, that Tehran also indicated it does not expect the group's participation. During a recent visit to Beirut, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Saied Khatibzadeh reportedly told lawmakers linked to Hezbollah and the Amal movement that Iran could independently counter a U.S. attack and would not request assistance. He also claimed Iran had made significant progress in preparing to thwart U.S. objectives. However, the Iranian Embassy in Lebanon on October 24 denied reports of Khatibzadeh's visit and meetings. Lebanese parliamentary sources told the newspaper that Hezbollah's non-involvement is due to the power imbalance with Israel, suggesting its entry would not alter the conflict's outcome. Another factor cited is the potential backlash from Hezbollah's own supporters, as Lebanese Shiites might not tolerate another war for Iran's sake. Amidst reports of conflict preparation, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called for a return to concluding the agreement with the U.S. on television on October 24, blaming Washington for the collapse of previous deals. He stated, "We had negotiations. Cowards destroyed everything. I still believe we need to finish this." On October 20, 2026, Pakistani Army Commander Asim Munir, a mediator between Tehran and Washington after the last ceasefire, arrived in Iran. Following his visit, Al-Jadeed reported preliminary U.S.-Iran understandings on resuming negotiations, including preventing escalation and unfreezing $6 billion in Iranian funds in Qatari banks. Conversely, Iranian sources told Reuters on the same day that Tehran believes the U.S. intends to restart the war to escape a Middle East stalemate. One source suggested Iran is preparing for Israeli-American strikes rather than a peace deal, aiming to prevent a political victory for Donald Trump. These sources admitted Tehran deliberately delayed negotiations to hinder Trump's chances in the midterm congressional elections. U.S. President Trump had previously stated there would be no U.S. bombings of Iran before November 3, the election day. Nevertheless, Tehran anticipates strikes will resume eventually. Trump himself, at a rally in Florida on October 23, 2026, again alluded to military action, saying, "We can have another small operation 'Epic Fury,' or the Iranians will agree to a deal." He advised Tehran to pursue a deal but expressed doubt they would. Meanwhile, media linked to pro-Iranian groups reported the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps continued missile tests in Iran. The U.S. is reportedly accelerating the evacuation of diplomats and their families from Middle Eastern posts due to the possibility of war resuming and threats against American personnel. CNN reported the U.S. is secretly evacuating diplomats from the Middle East, while Israel reportedly seeks to expedite a strike on Iran. IDF generals stated there is no reason to attack Iran before the elections unless Tehran prepares an offensive. Netanyahu denied Trump blocked a strike on Iran. According to Axios, the decision to reduce diplomatic presence is partly due to intelligence on activated Iranian plans to attack American diplomats and high-ranking officials in the Middle East and beyond. A U.S. intelligence memo dated October 23 indicated that preparations for assassinations have reached an "advanced stage."