Reports have surfaced alleging that the Iranian regime attempted to transfer several million dollars in cash to Hezbollah through Beirut’s Rafiq Hariri Airport. This claim prompted Lebanese security authorities to conduct an extensive inspection of an Iranian passenger plane.
On Friday, January 3, Al-Hadath reported that an employee of the Iranian Embassy in Beirut obstructed an attempt to inspect a diplomatic bag he was carrying. According to the report, airport security thoroughly examined the luggage of all passengers and inspected the plane itself.
This marks the second instance in a week when Lebanese security forces have scrutinized Iranian planes and their passengers. Lebanese security sources informed Saudi media that communications had been established with Iranian officials regarding a Mahan Airlines flight suspected of transporting large sums of money intended for Hezbollah. The sources, as cited by Al-Hadath, stated that airport authorities had warned the Iranian side that any suspicious cargo would be seized.
In response, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry disclosed that it had received a written explanation from the Iranian Embassy concerning the contents of two small diplomatic bags carried by an embassy employee on the Mahan flight. The embassy claimed these bags contained documents and cash to cover operational costs, permissible under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Growing Concerns Over Hezbollah’s Influence
Many Lebanese politicians critical of Hezbollah have accused the group of exploiting the country’s infrastructure, including airports, to smuggle weapons and funds from Iran. On Thursday, Western sources told Al-Arabiya that the Iranian regime had planned to transfer millions of dollars to Hezbollah via a Mahan Airlines flight.
Since October 2024, the Lebanese army has been tasked with monitoring airport operations to prevent violations that could provoke Israeli retaliation. The cease-fire agreement between Israel and Lebanon in November 2024 stipulates that arms imports are solely under Lebanese authority, which must maintain control over all border crossings.
Diplomatic Tensions at the Airport
The inspection of Mahan Airlines passengers at Beirut airport led to tensions. The state-run SNN news agency in Iran reported the presence of Mojtaba Amani, Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, among Hezbollah supporters protesting outside the Iranian Embassy in Beirut.
Al-Manar, a pro-Hezbollah news channel, reported that passengers arriving from Tehran faced rigorous physical and baggage inspections. The network claimed that airport officials attempted to search the luggage of the Iranian diplomatic delegation, leading to diplomatic objections and heightened tensions.
Simultaneously, Iranian state media quoted an “informed source” at the embassy, alleging that the inspections were conducted under orders from Lebanon’s Interior Minister, influenced by pressure from the U.S. and Israel.
Financial Support Amid Strained Resources
Iran’s regime has long provided substantial financial aid to its proxy groups across the region. Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s former Secretary General, openly acknowledged that the group’s expenses are entirely funded by Iran, stating, “As long as Iran has money, we also have money.”
Naim Qassem, Nasrallah’s successor, revealed last month that Tehran pays $12,000 to $14,000 to each Hezbollah member’s family to rebuild homes destroyed by Israeli attacks. He also cited a $77 million funding initiative for reconstruction.
However, escalating scrutiny by Israeli and U.S. authorities, coupled with the destruction of financial transfer networks through Israeli airstrikes and the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, has significantly complicated the Iran regime’s efforts to finance Hezbollah and other proxy forces.
Conclusion
The intensified inspections at Beirut’s Rafiq Hariri Airport underscore the growing challenges faced by the Iranian regime in sustaining its financial support for Hezbollah. With international pressure mounting, Lebanon finds itself at the center of a geopolitical struggle that threatens its stability and sovereignty.
