Hezbollah Leader: Ready to Travel to Iran to Request Aid and Fuel

Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah, says he is ready to travel to Iran to receive aid and import fuel from the Islamic Republic.

Iran has been the largest financial supporter of Lebanon’s Hezbollah since the 1980s, a paramilitary group that is subject to sanctions by many Western countries while maintaining significant influence in Lebanon.

Lebanon has faced an escalating financial crisis in recent years and recently has confronted a fuel crisis.

Iran, as an ally of Syria, has been delivering 30 to 50 thousand barrels of crude oil daily to that country for years, but the Lebanese government has refrained from requesting assistance from the Islamic Republic for fuel delivery due to American sanctions and fear of losing its Arab and European allies.

However, Hassan Nasrallah’s proposal to receive aid, particularly fuel, from the Islamic Republic comes at a time when Iran itself has faced a financial crisis in recent years, significant budget deficits, unemployment, poverty, and runaway inflation.

On Tuesday, June 8, in an interview with Al-Manar television, affiliated with Hezbollah, Mr. Nasrallah said he could travel to Iran and negotiate with Tehran officials for fuel imports to solve Lebanon’s fuel problem.

He called on the Lebanese government to make a “bold decision” and “regardless of American sanctions, proceed with importing fuel from Iran.”

The Secretary-General of Lebanon’s Hezbollah also proposed last year that the Lebanese government consider the possibility of purchasing petroleum products from Iran; according to him, Iran was ready to conduct this transaction in Lebanese pounds.

His remarks about negotiating with Iran for fuel imports come at a time when numerous reports have been published in recent months about this paramilitary group receiving fuel from Iran.

In this regard, Reuters reported on April 17 that Lebanon’s Hezbollah paramilitary group, considering the possibility of complete economic collapse in Lebanon, is preparing fuel storage warehouses imported from Iran and distributing food ration cards.

The report, citing three unnamed sources, states that Hezbollah, the Iran-backed paramilitary group, has also imported medicines to be able to provide emergency services.

On Tuesday, Mr. Nasrallah also spoke about reports of his coronavirus infection and attempted to assure that he is in appropriate “health” condition.

It had been previously reported that he contracted coronavirus on May 25, more than two weeks ago.

In his interview, Mr. Nasrallah said: “A person is human, after all; they can become tired or sick.” He attributed his illness to “allergies” and said: “The matter is not that serious.”

He said: “Some reported my death and some were looking for my successor, but I assure you that there is nothing significant to worry about.”

Source: Radio Farda