Bangladesh, June 18 -- The prospect of a new understanding between the United States and Iran has generated cautious optimism across the Middle East. If such an agreement materializes, it could reduce regional tensions, lower the risk of a wider conflict, and create a temporary period of stability. For Lebanon, however, any agreement that focuses solely on regional power dynamics without addressing the countrys internal challenges would amount to little more than a pause between crises.

The central problem facing Lebanon is not merely the risk of confrontation between Israel and Iran. It is the reality that a powerful non-state actor continues to possess the ability to make decisions that can drag the entire country into war, regardless ...