The Iranian regime has quietly funneled at least $1 billion to Hezbollah in Lebanon this year, even under heavy sanctions, and U.S. officials say the moment is ripe to squeeze those lifelines and push for disarmament of the militia that holds Lebanon hostage.
U.S. Treasury officials report a persistent stream of funds from Tehran to Hezbollah despite intense financial pressure. The figure of at least $1 billion shows Iran still treats proxy financing as a strategic priority, not a luxury it can cut back. From a Republican perspective, that makes clear the sanctions must stay tight and enforcement has to get tougher, not softer.
John Hurley, the undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, has been blunt about the stakes and the opportunity. “There’s a moment in Lebanon now. If we could get Hezbollah to disarm, the Lebanese people could get their country back,” Hurley said. That line isn’t diplomacy for diplomacy’s sake; it’s a call to use leverage now while Iran is exposed.
Hurley added more context about Tehran’s priorities and spending habits. “Even with everything Iran has been through, even with the economy not in great shape, they’re still pumping a lot of money to their terrorist proxies,” he continued. That admission underlines the need for coordinated pressure on the banking and smuggling networks that move cash, weapons and influence.
On the enforcement side, the United States and key partners have tightened sanctions to choke off Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its proxy networks. President Donald Trump ordered bombings on Iran’s key nuclear sites earlier this year in Operation Midnight Hammer, which U.S. officials say succeeded in crippling Tehran’s progress toward a bomb. Those actions signal a willingness to pair economic pain with decisive operations when necessary.
Even as Tehran faces setbacks, it keeps trying to extend chaos beyond the Middle East, including plots aimed at diplomats. “We thank the security and law enforcement services in Mexico for thwarting a terrorist network directed by Iran that sought to attack Israel’s ambassador in Mexico,” Israel’s foreign ministry said. That public praise reflects deep concern and highlights the global reach of Iran-backed operations.
“The Israeli security and intelligence community will continue to work tirelessly, in full cooperation with security and intelligence agencies around the world, to thwart terrorist threats from Iran and its proxies against Israeli and Jewish targets worldwide.” Those words underscore how allied intelligence work matters and why the U.S. must remain an active partner in disrupting plots wherever they surface.
A U.S. official told Reuters the plot targeting ambassador Einat Kranz Neiger “was contained and does not pose a current threat.” Containment is good, but prevention is better, and preventing future attacks means dismantling the funding and logistics chains that enabled the plot in the first place. That requires persistent sanctions, interdiction efforts, and close coordination with regional partners.
There is a clear policy choice ahead: accept a continuing flow of Iranian cash into Hezbollah and other proxies, or double down on pressure to cut those channels off. Republicans should push for the latter, using sanctions, targeted operations and allied cooperation to force a real, verifiable reduction in Tehran’s ability to bankroll violence. The people of Lebanon and the region deserve the chance to reclaim their countries from armed militias and foreign puppeteers.
Graduate Student, wife, engaged political and legal writer.