In a recent televised address, Sheikh Naim Qassem, the new Secretary-General of Hezbollah, confirmed significant financial support from the clerical regime in Iran to the Lebanese Hezbollah group, underlining the close alliance between the two. Qassem expressed gratitude to regime’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the Masoud Pezeshkian government for their “generous contributions,” claiming that $77 million has already been allocated to over 172,000 Lebanese families affected by Israeli airstrikes.
Qassem stated that families in Beirut whose homes were completely destroyed are receiving $14,000 each, while those outside the city receive $12,000. In addition, Hezbollah has distributed monthly aid of $300 to $400 per displaced family to cover living expenses, a move described as a “gift from Iran.” According to state-run Asriran (Dec. 5, 2024), most of these funds come directly from Tehran.
However, this generosity comes at a time when Iran is grappling with an economic crisis. Massoud Pezeshkian, in a recent televised interview, admitted the government struggles to meet domestic subsidies: “We face shortages across the board, even struggling to pay fuel subsidies.” Meanwhile, the Iranian government is reportedly considering increasing fuel prices, risking nationwide protests akin to those seen in recent years.
Qassem’s remarks also reiterated Hezbollah’s commitment to supporting Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, framing the opposition as part of a “dangerous Israeli-American plan to destabilize the Middle East.” He emphasized Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon as a critical front in the resistance axis.
Watch the second episode of this series, picturing why and how the terrorist regime in #Iran created the #Hezbollah. pic.twitter.com/UztKPRe55C
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) January 8, 2024
Critics argue that Tehran’s continued financial and military support for Hezbollah and other proxies reflects its attempt to manage damage and maintain influence amid mounting regional and domestic challenges. According to estimates, the regime provides between $700 million and $1 billion annually to Hezbollah. This funding has persisted despite U.S. sanctions and Iran’s mounting economic woes, indicating the regime’s prioritization of foreign influence over domestic welfare.
The revelations about Iran’s financial commitments to Hezbollah have reignited public outrage at home. Many Iranians, already struggling with inflation, unemployment, and currency devaluation, view these expenditures as a betrayal of their needs. A middle-class Iranian earning in rials cannot fathom the equivalent of $14,000 in aid being sent abroad, while ordinary citizens endure fuel price hikes and shortages.
The clerical regime’s heavy investment in its regional proxies reflects its dependence on these alliances to maintain strategic influence and safeguard its ideological power base. With the regime facing crises at home, in Syria, and in Lebanon, maintaining unity among its proxy forces has become paramount. Analysts argue this strategy aims to project strength abroad while boosting morale within its domestic power base.
As the Iranian regime navigates this precarious situation, the stakes are high. While it seeks to consolidate its influence in the region and present a united front against perceived enemies, the economic and political cost of these endeavors is fueling discontent among its citizens. With Iran already besieged by multiple crises—domestic protests, international sanctions, and regional instability—the regime’s continued prioritization of its proxy forces risks igniting further unrest and undermining its long-term viability.