Nasrallah Warns U.S., Israel against Targeting Lebanon-Bound Iranian Fuel Ship
Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday announced that a first ship carrying diesel and other essential goods would sail from Iran to Lebanon "within hours," warning the U.S. and Israel against targeting it.
"Our first ship will sail from Iran within hours, carrying the needed material," Nasrallah said in a defiant speech marking the last day of the Ashura religious commemorations.
"More ships will also come from Iran, not only this ship," he noted.
"We do not want a confrontation with anyone and we only want to help our people," Nasrallah added. He however warned the U.S. and Israel against targeting the ship.
"I tell the Americans and Israelis that when the ship sails from Iran within hours, we will consider it to be 'Lebanese territory,'" Hizbullah's chief said.
He added: "We reject to be humiliated in a military war, political war or economic war."
Stressing that Iran "has never let down its allies," Nasrallah said that slain Iranian general "Qassem Soleimani's chopped hand on the land of Baghdad airport is the biggest proof."
"Iran has never interfered in Lebanon's internal affairs and we are not tools in the hands of this dear state," Nasarallah said.
Describing Lebanon's fuel crisis as "fabricated," Nasrallah called on the state to intervene against monopolists.
"If monopolists do not stop their inhumane ways, it will not be enough for security forces to seize their quantities, they must be put in jail," Nasrallah urged.
"Had the state intervened from the beginning of the crisis with a courageous decision as it did in the past days, we would not have witnessed the queues of humiliation," he said.
Nasrallah also lashed out anew at Washington and the U.S. embassy in Lebanon.
"The U.S. embassy is behind all this incitement for the Lebanese against each other," Nasrallah said.
"The U.S. embassy present in Awkar is not a diplomatic representation mission, it is an embassy for conspiring against Lebanon's people," he charged.
Addressing Hizbullah's foes, Nasrallah added: "Do not try us in any military war, security war or economic war."
As for the issue of the new government, Nasrallah said: "Like the rest of the Lebanese, we are looking forward with hope to the outcome of the meetings between the President and the PM-designate."
"We call for the formation of a government in Lebanon and we reject vacuum," he said.
"Some accuse us of not exerting enough pressures on our allies and friends, but this is meaningless," he added.
He also emphasized that Iran "has never interfered in the formation and resignation of governments in Lebanon."
"The countries that interfere through their embassies are well-known," Nasrallah said.
Source: Naharnet
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