US sanctions two Hezbollah representatives in Lebanese parliament
The United States has added the names of two Hezbollah members of the Lebanese parliament to its sanctions blacklist. Hezbollah is a pro-Iranian organization and it is the first time Washington has sanctioned elected Hezbollah politicians in Lebanon.
The US Treasury Department announced on Tuesday, July 9, that it has added Amin Sherry and Mohammed Hassan Raad, Lebanese parliamentarians who are among the candidates nominated by Hezbollah, to its sanctions blacklist, along with Wafiq Safa, Hezbollah's communications and coordination officer.
These individuals have been named in connection with terrorism, and the US Treasury Department has stated that Hezbollah is using its parliamentary power to advance violent activities.
Sigal Mandelker, the US Undersecretary of the Treasury, said that Hezbollah uses its representatives in the Lebanese parliament to facilitate the group's instructions, as well as those of Iran. The US has repeatedly called on the international community to put Lebanon's Hezbollah on its terrorist list.
History of sanctions against Hezbollah by the US and Western countries
Hezbollah is a major Shiite paramilitary organization in Lebanon that receives financial and military support from the Islamic Republic of Iran. It has three ministers in the new Lebanese government.
On February 7th of this year, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Lebanese Hezbollah, advised the Lebanese government to obtain weapons from Iran to counter Israeli airstrikes.
Hassan Nasrallah considers himself a follower and imitator of the orders of Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Hezbollah is in close cooperation with the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Previously, the United States, Canada, Israel, the League of Arab States, and the Gulf Cooperation Council have fully designated Lebanon's Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.
Source: DW
