John Hurley, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said that despite sanctions, the Iranian regime has sent about one billion dollars to Hezbollah this year.
In an interview with Reuters in Istanbul, he added: “There’s a moment in Lebanon now. If we could get Hezbollah to disarm, the Lebanese people could get their country back.”
The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence said the key to disarming Hezbollah is cutting off Iran’s funding, and that if Hezbollah can be disarmed, the Lebanese people can reclaim their country.
Hezbollah Secretly Rebuilding Itself with Help from Iran’s Regime
On November 6, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned several active members of Hezbollah involved in financial operations, as part of efforts to support the group’s disarmament.
In 2025, they transferred tens of millions of dollars from Iran to Hezbollah.
According to the Treasury Department, their methods included selling Iranian oil and goods and transferring the proceeds to Lebanon through both licensed and unlicensed exchange houses.
Tehran’s role in rebuilding Hezbollah
Israel says Hezbollah is trying to rebuild its capabilities and, despite a ceasefire agreement, carried out heavy airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Thursday.
The Lebanese government is committed to disarming all non-state groups, including Hezbollah, which was founded in 1982 by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
While Hezbollah has not prevented government forces in southern Lebanon from seizing its depots, it has rejected complete disarmament.
During his first trip to the Middle East since the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, Hurley raised the issue of Iran in meetings with government officials, bankers, and private sector executives.
He said: “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.”
