Controversial Iranian Grant to Army Reaches Standstill, Delay Expected

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

The Defense Ministry hasn't yet delivered to the cabinet's secretariat the report on Defense Minister Samir Moqbel's recent visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

According to al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Tuesday, the report will include details on the controversial Iranian grant to the Lebanese army, which will decide its fate.

The daily reported that the government's stance from the grant is expected to be delayed.

Moqbel traveled to Iran last month and met senior officials, who expressed Iran's readiness to transfer its military experience in order to improve security in Lebanon and the region, and to combat terrorists.

Deputy Iranian Foreign Minister for the Arab and African Affairs Hussein Amir Abdul-Lahian said on Monday that his country's aid to the Lebanese army came in light of the developments in the region.

“We understand the pressure exerted on Lebanese officials by some countries to reject this grant... but we stress that we are only aiding the Lebanese military and boosting its defenses to combat terrorism,” Abdul-Lahian said in a statement published in media outlets.

Iran's offer of support follows aid packages for the Lebanese army from both its regional rival Saudi Arabia and the United States.

It comes as the Lebanese army is cracking down on gunmen in the northern coastal city of Tripoli after deadly gunbattles, and in light of battles with jihadists from al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State group, who are entrenched on the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal on the porous Syrian-Lebanese border.

H.K.

G.K.

Comments 7
Missing people-power 04 November 2014, 08:24

Lebanon should break off all relations with the country that ordered the killing of Rafik Hariri.

(not to mention all the other M14 leaders killed by Hezbollah under orders from Iran)

Thumb ex-fpm 04 November 2014, 16:39

Disco FT has a lot of dance partners who groove to his tune and vote him up too, lol.

Default-user-icon ..-flamethrower-.. (Guest) 04 November 2014, 09:10

"France is currently discussing with Lebanon the delivery of arms to the Lebanese military under a $3 billion Saudi grant."
another M14 lie in the light of what KSA said: they will not activate the grant without an (M14) president. The signing of the contract with the French military today in Riyadh is a smoke screen.

Missing humble 04 November 2014, 10:00

I refuse to be linked to the homo sapiens civilization.

Thumb marcus 04 November 2014, 11:26

were you chosen to be the new troll for today?

Default-user-icon oussama (Guest) 04 November 2014, 14:11

Why is it unacceptable for the army to receive weapons from Iran ( who arms Hezbollah) but it is acceptable to accept weapons from Saudi Arabia ( who arms Nosra and ISIS) ?

Thumb ex-fpm 04 November 2014, 16:37

funny how FT has to make up all these accounts and continue his onslaught on posters. Ok, we get you.