Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has appointed Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem as his representative in Lebanon, replacing the party’s former leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike on September 27.
This role is the highest religious authority in Lebanon concerning Khamenei, granting his representative significant influence over religious and financial matters, including control of zakat funds collected from Khamenei’s followers. Additionally, the representative has the power to make political decisions based on local circumstances, acting on behalf of the Supreme Leader without requiring direct approval.
Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported that Khamenei’s decision came approximately 100 days after Qassem was elected as Hezbollah’s Secretary-General.
The position of Khamenei’s representative is a religious one, allowing the appointee to implement religious rulings derived from Khamenei’s fatwas independently, without needing to consult him on details.
Khamenei has representatives in all Iranian provinces and several countries, including Lebanon, Iraq, and various Asian and European nations. These representatives issue fatwas, religious rulings, and respond to inquiries from Khamenei’s followers.
In Lebanon, alongside Khamenei’s representative, there is also a legal proxy. Qassem now holds the primary position, while Sheikh Mohammad Yazbek serves as the legal proxy, whose role is mainly focused on judicial rulings.
Qassem is a founding member of Hezbollah and had served as the party’s deputy secretary-general since 1991. He has been one of Hezbollah’s most prominent spokespersons, frequently engaging with foreign media. He is also known for overseeing Hezbollah’s parliamentary election campaigns since 1992.
