BEIRUT: Hezbollah received $200 million from Iran in September to assist Lebanese displaced by war with Israel, two people with direct knowledge told Reuters. US officials disputed the claim on Wednesday.
US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the money “is not there” and accused the group of inventing stories about Iranian cash to protect its reputation.
A Treasury Department spokesperson likewise maintained that Tehran lacked the money and transfer channels to finance its regional activities.
However, a Hezbollah official confirmed that the group had secured funds, without identifying the source or specifying the amount. According to the two people, the group plans initial payments of $3,000 per family.
Authorities would prioritise residents whose villages Israeli forces have destroyed or continue to occupy, leaving them inaccessible. One person estimated that around 50,000 families fall into those categories.
Intermediaries charged a 20% fee to move the money because of the risks involved, the people explained. One charged four times the usual rate.
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Israel’s bombardment and invasion displaced hundreds of thousands of the group’s Shia Muslim constituents after it entered the regional war in support of Iran on March 2. Those displaced have received little or no assistance from the group so far.
Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry, its permanent mission in Geneva and the Lebanese government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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Washington designates Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation. US sanctions have restricted its financial channels.
The Treasury Department previously estimated that Iran transferred more than $1 billion to the group during the first 10 months of 2025.
The group’s official said it would announce a distribution plan in the coming days. Two people described an Iranian transfer intended to support displaced Lebanese families, while US officials disputed their account.
