Iran’s 'shocking' financial support to Hezbollah - Millions sent to terror group

Iran Denies Using Public Funds to Support Hezbollah Amidst Rising Poverty

An investigative report by Iran International has revealed that Tehran recently allocated over $10,000 per family to Lebanese households affected by the ongoing conflict with Israel, but these funds were exclusively distributed to Shiite families aligned with Hezbollah.

When the Iranian government first announced the distribution of these funds in December, Hezbollah’s newly appointed secretary-general, Naim Qassem, openly celebrated the payments, calling them a “gift from the Islamic Republic.” Qassem praised the support, emphasizing the hardships Hezbollah and Lebanon faced during the fighting with Israel, which he referred to as a "savage and criminal aggression." He remarked, "We endured one of the most dangerous phases since our creation 42 years ago, in 1982. Through this aggression, the enemy [Israel] tried to break the Resistance and eliminate its presence. But the Resistance stood its ground and confronted it."

Altogether, the Iranian government is expected to distribute approximately $50 million to 233,500 families affiliated with terror groups, fueling growing concerns over the regime’s priorities. While the government insists that no public funds, which come from the taxes of struggling Iranian citizens, are being spent abroad, this claim is increasingly being questioned. Mohammad Hadi Sobhanian, Iran's Tax Administration Minister, recently stated, "There is absolutely no discussion regarding the payment of taxes for overseas projects, and it is not the case that people pay taxes and the taxes are spent outside the country."

However, these assurances from the government have done little to quell suspicions. On Tuesday, it was reported that Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, met with leaders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group in Tehran, allegedly seeking financial support. Simultaneously, Hezbollah has expanded its operations in Lebanon, opening new branches of interest-free loan funds, once again fueled by Iranian money.

Despite the government's official stance, the ongoing distribution of funds to foreign terror groups raises questions about the priorities of a regime that continues to allocate resources to conflicts abroad while its citizens face severe economic hardship.