Salam stated his intent to avoid exclusion and to promote unity across the political spectrum, especially after Hezbollah's parliamentary leader
Mohammad Raad stated that Hezbollah had "extended its hand" by helping to secure Aoun's election, but found that "hand cut off." He accused the opposition of fragmentation and exclusion from power in Lebanon. Salam also pledged to extend and impose the authority of the Lebanese state across its entire territory, in line with the U.N.
Resolution 1701. He vowed to reopen the investigation of the
Beirut port explosion and proposed engaging with international partners, an investigation that officially resumed on 16 January 2025. Salam's cabinet was confirmed by President
Joseph Aoun on 8 February 2025. Salam emphasized In his inaugural televised interview the need for comprehensive reforms in order to restore citizens' trust in the Lebanese state. He highlighted the importance of restructuring the banking sector to attract investments and safeguard deposits, asserting that a robust banking system is essential for economic growth. Salam also called for serious efforts toward establishing an
independent judiciary, stating that without it, there can be no protection for freedoms, guarantee of rights, or encouragement of investments. He underscored that judicial independence is the cornerstone of both financial and political reforms. Additionally, Salam advocated for the full implementation of the
Taif Agreement, particularly administrative decentralization, warning that delays have exacerbated national crises. He reaffirmed his commitment to implementing
U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, emphasizing the state's exclusive authority over weapons and security matters. Addressing the financial crisis, Salam rejected any solutions that would involve writing off citizens' deposits, emphasizing the need to protect depositors' rights. He concluded by expressing his intent to engage with international partners to support Lebanon's reform and recovery efforts. On 26 February, Salam's government won a confidence vote in parliament. On the 50th anniversary of the
Lebanese Civil War, he called for national reflection and a renewed commitment to building a unified state. In a message shared on
X (formerly Twitter), he emphasized that all factions were ultimately losers in the conflict and highlighted the absence or failure of the state as a central cause. Salam advocated for the full implementation of the Taif Agreement, correcting misapplications and closing loopholes, and stressed the importance of legitimate armed forces holding exclusive rights to bear arms. He also urged the state to address the issue of missing and kidnapped individuals with seriousness and transparency. To commemorate the anniversary, Salam called for a nationwide moment of silence at noon on 13 April, under the slogan: "We remember together to rebuild together." During the visit of Iran's secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council,
Ali Larijani, Salam said that recent comments from Iranian officials
Abbas Araghchi and
Ali Akbar Velayati clearly broke normal diplomatic rules and showed no respect for Lebanon’s independence. On 15 August 2025, in response to the statement of Naim Qassem he said there is only one government that makes decisions in Lebanon, there is no state that doesn't have arms monopoly and addressing Qassems threat of civil war he said "The implicit or direct threat of civil war, I believe that none of the Lebanese today, ... none of the Lebanese, young and old, men and women, in the south or in the north, wherever they are, none of them wants to return to civil war today". On 5 September 2025 he declared that the cabinet welcomes the army's plan for weapons state control, focusing on the
disarmament of Hezbollah. On 20 November 2025 he declared Lebanon's readiness to engage with Israel in order to solve land border disputes and agree on an Israeli withdrawal from the areas retained after its
war with Hezbollah the year prior.
2026 Lebanon War Following the
2026 Israeli–United States strikes on Iran, Salam urged restraint, stressing that Lebanon must not be dragged into a wider regional war and should prioritize its own security and stability. On 2 March, he ordered a ban on military activities by Hezbollah. On 5 March 2026, it was announced that all activity of the Iranian
IRGC in Lebanon is banned. In addition, it was decided that Iranians now require a visa to enter Lebanon. In an interview to
Asharq Al-Awsat he addressed the
2026 Lebanon war, saying “We could have avoided being impacted by the conflict were it not for the strategic error committed by Hezbollah by being dragged us into it,” In an interview to
L’Orient-Le Jour Salam said "We are open to discussing any formula related to negotiations with Israel". On a March 2026 interview to CNN Salam said he is willing to enter immediate and direct negotiations with Israel, to end the war in Lebanon. In an interview to Saudi Arabia's
Al-Hadath Salam said Iranian IRGC is directing Hezbollah in its war on Israel and that this war was imposed on Lebanon. "These were the Revolutionary Guards, who are present and, unfortunately, managing military operations in Lebanon ...These people have fake passports and entered the country illegally,”. He mentioned again the government's unprecedented decision to ban Hezbollah's military actions, calling them to disarm and hand their weapons to the state. On 26 March 2026, Salam spoke with UN Secretary-General
António Guterres regarding the expansion of
Israel's ground operations in southern Lebanon. During the call, Salam stated that Israeli actions threatened Lebanon’s sovereignty and violated international law and the
UN Charter. He further announced that Lebanon would file a formal complaint with the
UN Security Council. Salam warned the United Nations of the 'risk of annexation' of Lebanese territory south of the
Litani River by Israel. On 12 April 2026, he addressed the nation with a speech for the 1975 Civil war commemoration. He stated that the country must stay unified, not fall to civil war again and must embrace Aoun's initiative for direct peace talks with Israel while implementing the
Taif agreement. Nawaf Salam said on May 6th that Lebanon is on the road to peace with Israel, while emphasizing the importance to restrict weapons to state control, according to the "Nation Shield" plan. ==Personal life==