The United States is stepping up pressure on Hezbollah with new sanctions as a possible nuclear deal with Iran draws closer
The United States announced on Thursday a new round of sanctions against the Lebanese group Hezbollah, specifically targeting two senior officials of the organisation and two financial facilitators. According to the Treasury Department, those sanctioned played a key role in coordinating international financial transfers to support the group, which is considered a terrorist organisation by Washington and openly backed by Iran.
The measures come at a particularly sensitive time on the geopolitical scene. US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that his administration is ‘very close’ to reaching a new agreement with the Iranian regime on its nuclear programme. He also said that Tehran has shown unprecedented openness by accepting ‘to a certain extent’ the conditions imposed by the United States.
According to US authorities, the sanctioned individuals reside in Lebanon and Iran and channelled foreign donations to Hezbollah. These international contributions constitute an essential part of the group's budget, whose financial structure remains under intense scrutiny by US authorities.
‘Hezbollah's global reach through its network of donors and facilitators of terrorism, particularly in Tehran, is broad and deeply troubling,’ said Michael Falkender, undersecretary for the Treasury. ‘As part of our ongoing efforts to curb Iranian support for terrorism, we will continue to intensify economic pressure on key figures in the Iranian regime and its allies,’ he added.
These new sanctions come at a time of significant weakening of Hezbollah both domestically and externally. Following the recent escalation of clashes with Israel, triggered by the war in Gaza and ending with a fragile ceasefire agreement, the group has suffered considerable losses. Several of its leaders have been killed in targeted attacks and much of its arsenal has been destroyed.
Despite the truce, Israel continues to carry out precision operations in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah's response has been limited, reduced to statements of condemnation without visible military action, a stance that many interpret as a sign of weakness or strategic restraint.
This deterioration has also affected the regional position of Iran, its main sponsor. With less room for manoeuvre, Tehran is now participating in nuclear negotiations with Washington, mediated by Oman, in which it has begun to show some flexibility, in contrast to its usual firm stance.
Trump hints at imminent agreement with Tehran
From Doha, the capital of Qatar, Trump said on Thursday that ‘we are probably getting closer to making a deal [with Iran] without having to do it through military means,’ hinting that significant progress has been made in the talks that began in April.
He also thanked the Qatari emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, for his diplomatic role in preventing a military escalation. According to Trump, the Gulf leader has been key in pushing to keep negotiations open and away from armed conflict.
As part of his tour of the Persian Gulf, Trump has visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, where he has signed million-dollar economic and trade agreements. According to the president, his regional tour has generated ‘billions of dollars’ in contracts, especially in advanced technology sectors such as artificial intelligence.
On other fronts, Trump warned that the United States could resume military operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen, also backed by Iran, if they break the ceasefire reached in May under Omani mediation.
