By Nohad Topalian | 2026-03-23

Iran International news site revealed last week that Nabih Berri, Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, gets over $500,000 monthly from the Iranian regime to back its interests.

Berri, 88, has been the continuous presiding Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament since 1992, and leading the Amal Movement, since its formation in the 1970s.

He is a dominant Lebanese political figure, closely allied with Hizbullah, wielding significant influence over the nation's domestic and foreign policies.

The Iranian regime's financial support is a calculated, long-term strategy to guarantee Berri steers Lebanon's domestic and foreign policies to serve the regime and Hizbullah.

Political cover for Hizbullah's activities

According to reports, officials in Tehran say the sums are meant to "buy" unity among Lebanon's Shia leadership, ensuring its alignment with the regime's directives.

Furthermore, this funding serves to utilize Berri's influence within the Parliament to block any efforts to disarm Hizbullah.

"This financial arrangement is posited to explain Berri's unwavering protection of Hizbullah and Iran's interests, alongside his striking silence on Hizbullah's dangerous activities, weaponry and its current war with Israel," political writer Marwan al-Amin told Al-Fassel.

On March 1, Hizbullah targeted Israel in support of Tehran retaliating for the killing of the regime's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

"Berri failed to protect his community, history will show, opting to serve as Hizbullah's big brother instead of acting as a savior for his people or for Lebanon's national interests," al-Amin added.

The financial backing to Berri is drawn from a massive $1 billion transferred to Hizbullah in 2025 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps–Quds Force (IRGC-QF).

These funds are used by the Iranian regime to maintain its influence through Hizbullah within Lebanon's Shia political bloc.

Berri's dynamic leads to excessive support for Hizbullah's Israel operations and explains his reluctance to back government disarmament efforts.

Al-Amin highlighted that even Berri rejected President Joseph Aoun's peace initiative for direct negotiations with Israel to halt the war.

Part of the wealthiest elite

Berri's reported over $500,000 monthly pay from the Iranian regime makes him a top 0.01% wealthiest elite, insulated from Lebanon's harsh economic reality.

Hizbullah, in fact, sparked the 2019 financial crisis, trapping Lebanese people in an economic paradox of high-world prices and low local incomes.

Soaring inflation has made Lebanon's average cost of living a challenge, with monthly expenses of $800–$1,300 needed for a middle-class standard.

According to a political source who preferred to remain anonymous it is "only natural for Berri to receive a monthly financial stipend from the Iranian regime, given his pivotal role in the Shia duo."

"The funding ensures Iran's continued control over the Shia political sphere through Berri, maintaining the discipline of the Amal Movement and aligning policies with the interests of both Hizbullah and the regime," the source told Al-Fassel.