Hezbollah signals conditional neutrality as US–Iran talks resume in Geneva

The Lebanese group Hezbollah has signalled that it is prepared to maintain what it describes as “field neutrality” in the event of a limited conflict involving the United States and Iran, according to sources cited by An-Nidaa al-Watan. The reported shift comes as Washington and Tehran resume negotiations in Geneva that observers describe as a critical opportunity to ease regional tensions.

Sources indicate that Hezbollah has informed Lebanese state officials that it does not intend to intervene in a potential confrontation unless hostilities escalate into a full-scale war directly targeting Iran. Any military involvement, they say, would occur only in response to a direct attack by Israel and would be defensive in nature rather than an initiation of hostilities, as during Operation "Support Gaza."

According to Agence France-Presse, a Hezbollah official stated that strikes against Iran not aimed at overthrowing the regime would not prompt the organisation’s intervention. The official added that any attack targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, would constitute a red line.

The developments come as international and regional attention turns to Geneva, where negotiations between the United States and Iran have resumed. Analysts view the talks as potentially decisive for the trajectory of tensions across the Middle East. Even as Tehran participates in the diplomatic process, it continues to reinforce the presence of its armed forces in regional waters and airspace.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, speaking at an iftar gathering, called on all parties to act prudently and avoid drawing Lebanon into military confrontations. He said Lebanon’s national interest should prevail over regional and external considerations, pointing to significant geopolitical shifts and new alignments shaping the region.

At the same time, sources report growing dissatisfaction among parts of Lebanon’s Shiite community, with criticism directed at Iran over what is perceived as insufficient support during previous conflicts. In Beirut’s southern suburbs, Hezbollah is said to be gradually adopting a more pragmatic political posture, with practical considerations increasingly taking precedence over ideological commitments.

By Sabina Mammadli