Rouhani's Envoy Meets Lebanese Officials, Says Military Grant Ready if Lebanon Wants It

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

The special envoy of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Morteza Sarmadi, announced Wednesday from Beirut that Tehran's proposed military grant to Lebanon is still on the table, hoping the Lebanese will manage to find an “appropriate solution” to the presidential crisis.

“Now that the nuclear settlement has been achieved, if the Lebanese side believes that it can now receive the Iranian military grant to the valiant Lebanese army, we are fully ready to offer this donation on a silver platter,” said Sarmadi, in response to a reporter's question.

The Iranian official, who arrived in Lebanon earlier in the day, was speaking after talks with Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil in Ashrafieh.

Discussions over the controversial Iranian grant to the Lebanese army were reportedly “frozen” in late 2014 to avoid any rift between cabinet members.

The head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, who made a one-day visit to Beirut in 2014, said that Tehran will provide military assistance to Lebanon.

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

As for the stalled presidential election, Sarmadi hoped Lebanese officials will be able to find an “appropriate solution” in the coming period.

“We're fully confident that the Lebanese political leaderships, movement and parties have enough maturity and awareness that qualify them to find the appropriate solutions to the presidential crisis,” added Sarmadi.

He also underlined that Tehran is “committed to its firm principled stance on noninterference in the domestic affairs of other countries,” while noting that his country “encourages the Lebanese to reach this appropriate solution.”

Earlier in the day, Sarmadi met with Speaker Nabih Berri after which he explained that the nuclear agreement reached last week is aimed at reaching a final one, expected before the end of June.

The talks also addressed regional developments, most notably the conflict in Yemen.

Sarmadi stressed the need to halt the Saudi-led military operation against Yemen's Huthi rebels, encouraging the concerned sides to launch dialogue.

He suggested holding dialogue in a neutral location with the participation of all Yemeni political factions to reach an agreement on a national government.

Sarmadi then headed to the Grand Serail for talks with Prime Minister Tammam Salam.

The Iranian official said after the meeting: “A strategic mistake took place against Yemen.”

“The claim that the airstrikes are aimed at restoring legitimacy are not based on any international resolution,” he added.

The Iranian official is scheduled to visit the grave of slain top Hizbullah operative Imad Mughnieh in the evening.

An Nahar daily reported that Sarmadi will likely hold a meeting with party chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

Diplomatic Iranian sources told al-Liwaa newspaper Wednesday that “his talks will not address Lebanese affairs, such as the presidential elections, because Tehran refuses to interfere in the internal matters of friendly countries.”

Al-Liwaa noted that Lebanon is the fifth stop of a tour Sarmadi is making to a number of countries, which included Turkey and Germany.

Y.R./M.T.

Comments 50
Thumb EagleDawn 08 April 2015, 09:12

"He will then visit the grave of slain top Hizbullah operative Imad Mughnieh."
Hopefully, on his next visit he will visit the grave of hizbullah's slain leader.

Thumb barrymore 08 April 2015, 09:56

good one!

Missing imagine_1979 08 April 2015, 20:39

Can we have hezbos arsenal for the army meanwhile?...

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 08 April 2015, 21:13

Thank you Iran but we would be better off without your money and your militias. You and your militias cost us a minimum of tens of billions of dollars in investments. Are you able to make that up? May be you should spend those few millions you are offering on the impoverished and oppressed Arabs in Iran whose oil you steal.

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 08 April 2015, 21:26

'Even where the majority of the local population is Arab, schools are reportedly not allowed to teach through the medium of Arabic; illiteracy rates are reportedly high, especially among Iranian Arab women in rural areas ... land expropriation by the Iranian authorities is reportedly so widespread that it appears to amount to a policy aimed at dispossessing Arabs of their traditional lands. This is apparently part of a strategy aimed at the forcible relocation of Arabs to other areas while facilitating the transfer of non-Arabs into Khuzestan and is linked to economic policies such as zero interest loans which are not available to local Arabs.' AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Thumb _mowaten_ 09 April 2015, 07:28

it's a troll-hate fest in here, israeli shills must be very frustrated over the iranian-US deal, and hysterical at the idea that iran can now give the LAF some real weapons (if the saudi-israeli agents in our government don't find a way to stop it)

Thumb _mowaten_ 09 April 2015, 07:31

Diplomatic Iranian sources told al-Liwaa newspaper Wednesday that “his talks will not address Lebanese affairs, such as the presidential elections, because Tehran refuses to interfere in the internal matters of friendly countries.”

>> take notes ya saudis.

Thumb ex-fpm 09 April 2015, 08:06

lol and what do you expect him to say?
>>>>> take note ya genius:)

Thumb _mowaten_ 09 April 2015, 10:21

not that he "vetoes" this or that president or asks for tele liban to be "held accountable" for interviews they chose to air.

Thumb Mystic 08 April 2015, 10:42

Ofcourse he goes to visit an honorable martyrs grave. Why is that a problem to you vulture?

Missing maroun 08 April 2015, 10:47

he might be honorable to you but he is a terrorist to normal people..

Thumb Mystic 08 April 2015, 11:18

All those that consider him terrorist, are the U.S & Israel, you consider those "normal people" ofcourse.

Missing maroun 08 April 2015, 12:29

Southern ..it will be be a million years before you can call yourself Lebanese ..i am patriotic and only support my country and its institutions .unlike you who put Syria and Iran before Lebanon..that makes you a traitor...

Thumb -phoenix1 08 April 2015, 20:41

Mystic, you called Imad a martyr? A martyr doesn't go and chicken away in some other country and dies there, a martyr dies in his own land standing and not hiding from one house or one woman's aprons to the other. What your Iranian boss came to do is to tell you guys the bitter truth and smooth it with a protocol visit to a shrine, period.

Thumb -phoenix1 08 April 2015, 20:49

Southern, I am sorry good bro, the truth is in my answer to our dear Mystic.

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 08 April 2015, 20:51

The Iranians love Arab Shia. You should see how well they treat them inside Iran. http://al-ahwaz.com/arabic/news/?p=1119

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 08 April 2015, 20:51

The Iranians love Arab Shia. You should see how well they treat them inside Iran. http://al-ahwaz.com/arabic/news/?p=1119

Thumb Mystic 08 April 2015, 21:26

Oh phoenix, so a real martyr according to you, is someone being blown up by his own neighbour? As the person on your avatar did.

By the way, he was not hiding in Damascus, he was doing business. Then the Mossad rigged his car with a bomb. When you hide, you do not get killed.

Ofcourse an Israeli lover such as yourself, will never accept that fact. First you became allies with the Syrians, later to join the Israelis.

People that doesn't know that, should read about Gemayaels families history, yes phoenix I know this hurts you, but you need to be hurt sometimes old friend, especially when you try to act smart.

Thumb justin 08 April 2015, 21:34

"When you hide, you do not get killed."
is that why nassrallah still alive?

Thumb Mystic 09 April 2015, 01:00

That Sayed Hassan is alive, is a pain enough for you people. I hope he lives for a very long time God willing.

Thumb -phoenix1 09 April 2015, 14:57

(1). Mystic, Imad Mughniyeh was not doing business in Damascus, he was in fact hiding and living there, in fact and contrary to what your side is trying to portrait, Imad has a meeting with Syrian officials but before that he visited an old lady friend. The Israelis had gotten an exact copy of Imad's SUV, copied everything, even the dents in it before rigging it with explosives and killing Imad that night. About Bachir, yes, you're right, he never listened to us or to those who advised him to heighten his security, Bachir was just too eager to put Lebanon on its feet again. H wanted to check civil servants, soldiers, policemen etc.. if they were doing their duties as was expected.

Thumb -phoenix1 09 April 2015, 15:03

(2). Mystic. Bachir was even leaving us at night to check on everyone, it was always a mad race to follow him and be abreast of his security. Yes, Bachir got killed and it still infuriates me, the Syrians knew the weaknesses of the LF because of Bachir's stubbornness. But the truth is, Bachir knew that he was being actively targeted on a daily basis, but with the Gemayels, death is not something that will make them leave Lebanese soil, unlike your martyr Mughnyeh who hid in Syria wrongly feeling he was safe there, ma it's the very Syria that sold him off anyway!!

Thumb -phoenix1 09 April 2015, 15:07

(3). Mystic. My dear brother, you still show that weakness about name calling, if only you dropped it off in favor of a better quality of debates. Mystic, I truly hate recalling this segment of the past, but in the civil war, every single Muslim wanted us Christians exterminated, even you Shiites, sorry, but at the time this was the poor level of education that was forced into your hearts and minds. Not one country offered to help us, who cared? We had no petrol, no uranium, just a bunch of troublesome Christians who obstructed the West from what they perceived as the bigger picture. But when the only country offered some help, in this case Israel, could we afford to say NO? Then we were not given much for free, in fact we raised money to buy almost everything.

Thumb -phoenix1 09 April 2015, 15:11

(4). Mystic. In those day my good friend we had to survive, so we couldn't afford the option of which hand helped. If you still want to make it your choice to label us, then you're offtrack to be honest, just check with what Bachir did when he got elected as president of Lebanon, that alone should strip you off any lame argument. OK, I am still of the opinion that Amin Gemayel made a huge dumb mistake to abrogate the May 17th Accord with Israel in favor of staying with the Arab countries, that was one of his most stupid mistakes, if I was him, I would have signed that Peace deal with Israel and the hell with the Arabs. The other big mistake Amin made was to put an idiot,and a humongous traitor like Michel Aoun as Interim PM, but that another story altogether that was dictated by Amin's hatred of Geagea.

Thumb -phoenix1 09 April 2015, 15:16

(5). So my dear Mystic, the Gemayels in truth are not like the Nasrallahs, they have no designs to turn Lebanon into an Israel of some sorts like wants to do Sayed Hassan with his Wilayet El Faqih, the Shiite Crescent my dear brother is now fighting the Sunni Crescent in a deadly conflict that could engulf the whole region. The Gemayels only wanted a Lebanon for ALL the Lebanese irrespective of religion or anything the like, but a Lebanon where the Christian was an equal partner like the rest of all the sects as well. They wanted and still want a Lebanon of laws, under a strong constitution enjoying strong constitutional institutions like a strong army, all free from corruption and graft.

Thumb -phoenix1 09 April 2015, 15:19

(6). Mystic. Till this day, be it the Gemayels or Samir Geagea, they still adhere strongly to a Lebanon of laws above every single citizen. Now compare that with what your side has done. Hezbollah has turned Lebanon into a land of gangs that want to control everything, from the ports, to the airport, to the casino, to the bus business, (only yesterday the LF protested in very firm terms against the Mafialogy of Hezbollah/Shiite in this regards and trade). Look at the misery Hezbollah has brought to Lebanon, the economy is barely alive.

Thumb -phoenix1 09 April 2015, 15:22

(7). Mystic. Look at just a few years ago when Rafic Hariri was still alive, how vibrant the country was, everyone wanted to come to Lebanon, walaw, you forgot that even in Winter we had shopping festivals? Now everybody wants to go to Dubai or Turkey, wow, thanks for nothing ya man!! You people have turned Lebanon into one big destitute village, literally nothing works anymore, your Hezbollah and your Shiites are killing this country, that simple. Please ya Mystic, I am not sectarian, but since you want the truth, then this is it, raw, undiluted and frank. Learn to live with it otherwise you people will lose the goodwill of most Lebanese.

Thumb Mystic 08 April 2015, 11:26

God forbid, but true. All Resistance leaders are ready for martyrdom.

Default-user-icon jaafar ibn iblees (Guest) 08 April 2015, 13:25

is that a martyred houthi jihadi iranian terrorist family in your avatar, God forbid?

Thumb freedomarch 08 April 2015, 23:35

If Iran gives the Lebanese Army anything, I and many others would appreciate that, no but ...
IF IRAN give us Hiz Zbelleh weapons we would love and praise that beautiful gesture a lot.
If Iran F**ks off ffrom our backs and take its crap and its pure filth, then that would be the greatest and most admirable act in the history of this country, we would be in debt for Iran, and will for sure buy Rugs in Return.

Missing humble 08 April 2015, 09:44

We don't want you to interfere in our internal affairs. You have an ambassador who can inform us officially.

Thumb barrymore 08 April 2015, 09:57

Why doesn't he visit the tomb of the "unknown soldier" that is a symbol of the country instead of the grave of a sectarian terrorist who died the ugliest death paying for all the crimes he committed.

Default-user-icon abbas.byintak (Guest) 08 April 2015, 10:00

As a Lebanese Citizen of the Shia Nation and on behalf of my Shia Nation i send my condolences to the Iranian government and the families of the deceased...its at times like this brotherly nations need to offer one another support, especially when both great nations are faced with the same common terrorist saudi enemy such as this.

Default-user-icon flamethrower.repurcussionist (Guest) 08 April 2015, 10:07

lebjack
can you please tell me why I was repeatedly banned and humiliated in front of every poster?

Default-user-icon _mowaten_ (Guest) 08 April 2015, 10:09

As everybody knows, I am a secular poster and have not one single mean bone of sectarianism in my body or soul. I just support Vilayat Al Faqih since I was born because it is the right Path. I also believe that Makkah belongs to the followers of Hussain and I hope we will get it back.

Thumb -phoenix1 08 April 2015, 13:23

When Iran concluded its deal with the big evil Amreeka and the West, Iranians took to the streets in almost frenzied celebration. Now everyone knows why, so why? Because the deal would when finally signed liberate them from the economic and other sanctions imposed on their country. Iran has been for years now trying to put a brave face on their slumping economy, their rampant inflation and all the social problems attributed to a crippled economy, so yes, Iranians celebrated giddily and like never seen before. Do Iranians really care what their leaders traded off with the big evil Amreeka? Would they really bother who Iran is dropping in favor of lifting the sanctions? Iran, Amreeka their Shaytan Al Akbar and the West have in majority agreed on everything, and would sign this deal soon, but by the grim looks of their envoy to Beirut, he does not seem to have good news for Sayed Hassan nor for Hezbollah. We will know soon, but the signs are ominous to say the least.

Thumb marcus 08 April 2015, 13:49

phoenix, many good points you make. Nassrallah already signaled a shift in slogans from "Death to Amreeka" to "Death to Saudi Arabia".

Thumb -phoenix1 08 April 2015, 14:18

Thanks Marcus, I hope he won't have to shift again to, "Death to Iran" after he's briefed with the bad news from his masters in Tehran.

Default-user-icon almost.full.disclosure. (Guest) 08 April 2015, 13:26

Thats one ugly sectarian khomeinist

Default-user-icon bro (Guest) 08 April 2015, 13:35

Hajj Sarmadi coming to inspect the Persian Islamic Empire's Mediterranean possession.

Thumb -phoenix1 08 April 2015, 20:38

Exactly Gabby, look at what they've done to Yemen now and Gaza before them and Syria!! They put Arab countries in trouble, then where the going gets too tough, the Iranians are nowhere to be seen.

Thumb ParvizAmir 08 April 2015, 21:45

The Islamic Republic of Iran and its envoy Morteza Sarmadi are welcomed in their second home of Lebanon among their brothers and sisters of all sects. The Islamic republic supports the oppressed people of Lebanon, Yemen, Bahrain, and Syria. We are ready to offer any assistance required to stop the Saudi-Zionist invasion of Lebanon and Yemen. It's the Supreme Leader's wishes that Lebanon be a model Islamic state mirroring the values of the Iranian Revolution. We are almost there.

Thumb ashtah 08 April 2015, 22:09

السعودية تعطيهم الأموال ليبنوا أسرا سعيدة، فيما إيران تعطيهم أسباب الموت ليبنوا بيوتا في الجنة، أو في الجحيم.

Thumb freedomarch 08 April 2015, 23:06

Yes yes yes .... please please please....

Missing humble 08 April 2015, 23:41

We don't want anything from a backward country with obscure middle aged culture.

Thumb _mowaten_ 09 April 2015, 13:07

that's not a nice thing to say to your saudi masters.

Thumb Mystic 09 April 2015, 00:58

About time, yes brother nation Iran will indeed send the LAF weapons in time of need. This is very good news.

Thumb liberty 09 April 2015, 06:03

In the mean time, how about if your holy sectarian resistance gives some of its ballistic arsenal to the LAF or it is not time of need yet ya houthi?!

Thumb Mystic 09 April 2015, 08:52

How about the F-16 jets the U.S should give to the LAF? Nothing at all, just rusty M113 cans.

Thumb kanaandian 09 April 2015, 19:31

Lebanon should take all these grant offers, one from the Americans.. another from the French, billions from the head slicing Saudis, now even their rival Farsis want to protect Lebanon. Well, just say yes to them all. Tell them "yes yes" when you agree to their terms, find a Syrian agent in Lebanon and hang him or her or a she man (they come like that now those men in niqabbis) by the balls to satisfy the noble Kingdom. In the case of Iran, grab a radical Salafi from Syria and hang him by his beard, satisfying Khamenei and knowing his money went to go use.