WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer returned Thursday from a bipartisan congressional delegation to Lebanon, where he said he pressed Lebanese leaders on the disarmament of Hezbollah and implementation of an agreement involving Lebanon, Israel and the United States.
Gottheimer, D-N.J., a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, led the delegation with U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Ill.
According to Gottheimer’s office, the delegation met with Lebanese officials and political leaders, including President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Lebanese Forces Party leader Samir Farid Geagea and members of Parliament, including Michel Moawad.
The meetings focused on Hezbollah’s disarmament, Iranian influence in Lebanon and implementation of the June 2026 Trilateral Framework.
According to Gottheimer’s office, the U.S.-brokered framework between Lebanon and Israel calls for Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah while Israeli forces withdraw in phases as the disarmament is verified. Gottheimer’s office said implementation remains in its early stages and that no timetable or verification process for removing Hezbollah’s weapons and infrastructure has been agreed upon.
“Lebanon is at a turning point. For far too long, Iran has used Hezbollah, its terror proxy, to hold the Lebanese people hostage. It has drained the country’s economy, weakened its institutions, and pulled it into wars the Lebanese people never chose,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “It’s time to return Lebanon to the Lebanese people. That means removing Iran’s influence and fully disarming and defunding Hezbollah. Lebanon made that commitment in June, and now it has to follow through fully, verifiably, and across the entire country. A Lebanon without Hezbollah is better for the Lebanese people, for the Middle East, and for America.”
Gottheimer said the delegation focused on establishing a time-bound plan with third-party verification for Hezbollah’s disarmament, stopping the flow of Iranian money and weapons through Lebanon, addressing smuggling routes and financing, and supporting Lebanese institutions.
The delegation also discussed efforts to combat terrorism financing and weapons smuggling in the region, according to Gottheimer’s office.
“Lebanon made a commitment in June, and what comes next is critical to the future of the country,” Gottheimer continued. “Every day Hezbollah keeps its weapons is another day Iran gets a vote in the future of Lebanon. A stable, sovereign Lebanon, free from Iran’s terror proxies, is good for the Lebanese people and vital to America’s national security. I’ll keep working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support that outcome.”
While in Lebanon, Gottheimer also visited the Maghen Abraham Synagogue and the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon.
Gottheimer has previously called for Hezbollah’s disarmament. In June, he and U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., introduced a bipartisan resolution calling on the Lebanese government and Lebanese Armed Forces to ensure Hezbollah disarms and ceases attacks. In December 2025, Gottheimer and U.S. Rep. Jefferson Shreve, R-Ind., led a bipartisan letter urging Lebanon’s president and prime minister to disarm Hezbollah.
