Report: Iran behind Hezbollah's controversial 'open letter'

A strong dispute has erupted within Hezbollah, particularly between the political faction that is close to Speaker Nabih Berri and the military faction that implements Iran’s decisions, the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Friday.

“Because the political decision ultimately rests with Iran, Hezbollah yesterday receive an Iranian memo from the supreme leader (Ali Khamenei) asking it to reject negotiations (with Israel) and maintain full readiness to undermine the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel,” the daily said.

“In its letter, Hezbollah hinted yesterday to the possibility of responding to the Israeli strikes, in a step that had not been expected by the Lebanese government nor by the Israelis themselves,” Nidaa al-Watan added.

“The letter was addressed to the three presidents to say that Berri bears the responsibility for convincing the political faction in Hezbollah to agree to negotiations, something that dismayed the Iranians,” the newspaper said.

Moreover, Nidaa al-Watan reported that President Joseph Aoun and PM Nawaf Salam were annoyed by Hezbollah’s letter and that they communicated with Berri, who seemed to be “surprised” by the letter’s content.

The daily added that U.S. and Gulf officials warned their Lebanese counterparts of the “dangerousness of Hezbollah’s stance.”