The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, which is affiliated with the Hezbollah terrorist organization, reported Thursday morning that the US have told Gulf states, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, that they are not to provide any financial aid to Lebanon at this stage. Instead, they have been instructed to await developments in negotiations with Iran and to observe the response of the Lebanese government to US economic, security and political conditions.
Diplomatic sources speaking to the newspaper said the move constitutes an undeclared "veto," part of the Trump administration's maximum pressure campaign aimed at removing any obstacles to an agreement that would resolve the conflict between Lebanon and Israel, including the issue of Hezbollah's weapons.
One of the sources noted that the US decision is not limited to Lebanon, but also applies to Syria, where the Americans are demanding full implementation of their list of conditions. Two official Lebanese sources denied the existence of an "American veto," but two political sources in Lebanon confirmed that such a directive had indeed been passed on to the Gulf states.
Against this backdrop, a source close to the Americans said the US seeks to resolve the Israeli-Arab conflict in order to advance its broader strategic goals in the Middle East, including those related to its rivalry with China, not solely for the sake of Israeli interests.
A political source said there are signs of an American plan to block all financial assistance to Lebanon ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for 2026. According to the source, the Americans hope their maximum pressure strategy will bring about a dramatic shift in Lebanon's parliament, pushing voters to punish Hezbollah for the outcome of the war with Israel and the country's severe economic crisis.
