A joint delegation from the US Treasury Department and the National Security Council has held talks with the Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam over Beirut’s efforts to combat money laundering, to cut off Hezbollah’s funding streams, and the deployment of Lebanese troops to the country’s south.
In his meeting with Sebastian Gorka, the head of the US delegation, Salam said that the Lebanese the government was committed to continuing the reform process and rebuilding state institutions.
He pledged to enhance transparency and implement regulatory laws in the financial sector to restore confidence and adhere to international standards. The deployment of the Lebanese army in the south and other regions to support stability and consolidate state authority was also discussed, as was strengthening state control over seaports and airports.
Gorka, US President Donald Trump’s senior counterterrorism director who has a history of making Islamophobic statements, called on Beirut to take "real action" to tackle the issues by the end of the year.
A Lebanese official told AFP that "the US wants Lebanese authorities to counter money laundering, the cash economy and close Al-Qard Al-Hassan," the official said, referring to a Hezbollah-linked financial firm sanctioned by Washington.
It also said Lebanon must crack down on illegal or unlicensed companies and tighten control over exchange offices.
The US Treasury claims that Iran has transferred around $1 billion to Hezbollah through money exchange companies. The Iran-backed group has been severely weakened following a full-scale war with Israel which ended in November 2024. More than 4,000 people were killed, including most of Hezbollah's top leadership.
The US Treasury also said it will impose further sanctions to sever Hezbollah's financial flow, imposing further sanctions, after concluding that Lebanon’s efforts to dismantle the group are still "insufficient".
Government sources told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Salam also said his government remains committed to the disarmament of Hezbollah, adding that "significant progress" had been made.
Salam said the Lebanese army has successfully closed tunnels, seized ammunition and dismantled missile platforms, among other actions.
However, the Lebanese prime minister stressed that Israel’s repeated violations of the ceasefire have obstructed progress towards full implementation of the truce’s terms.
Hundreds of ceasefire violations have been recorded since its implementation in November last year, with Israel striking Lebanon – particularly the south – almost daily. More than 100 people have been killed by such strikes since.
Additionally, Israeli troops have remained stationed in five hilltop stations it deems strategic, in violation of the ceasefire. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has said that his country "has no option" but to negotiate directly with Israel in order to put a halt to such attacks.
Gorka also met with President Aoun on Sunday. He called him a "friend and is positioned to help realise Trump’s vision for Peace in the Middle East under a new, broader Abraham Accords," in a statement on X.
Last Thursday, John Hurley, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated that "Lebanon has an opportunity to be free, prosperous, and secure, but this can only happen if Hezbollah is completely disarmed and Iran's funding and control are cut off."
He added, "We will work with our Lebanese partners to build a resilient economy that prioritizes the interests of all Lebanese citizens."
The US has put immense pressure on Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah in recent months, amid threats that Israel would intensify its attacks on the country.