Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri confirmed openness to discuss the fate of weapons within a consensual dialogue framework, expressing support for the oath speech of President Michel Aoun.

In a speech on the anniversary of the disappearance of Imam Musa al-Sadr and his companions on Sunday evening, he warned that “malevolent minds are more dangerous to Lebanon than the resistance weapons that liberated the land.”

He pointed out that “the American paper goes beyond the principle of disarmament,” stating that “Israel ignored the American paper and expanded its presence in southern Lebanon.”

On August 5, the Lebanese Cabinet approved the “monopoly of weapons” including Hezbollah’s arms by the state, assigning the army to develop a plan to complete this within the month and implement it before the end of 2025.

On Tuesday, U.S. Special Envoy to Syria and Lebanon Thomas Barrett said Lebanon will present a plan on August 31 to persuade Hezbollah to give up its weapons.

After meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun in Beirut, he added that Israel will present a counter-proposal upon receiving the Lebanese plan.

Barrett said the plan Lebanon is preparing will not necessarily involve military action to convince Hezbollah to disarm.

The envoy added, “The Lebanese army and government are not talking about war; they are talking about how to convince Hezbollah to relinquish those weapons.”