Beirut blast: Iran says ready to help Lebanon in any way necessary

Immediately after a massive explosion rocked the Lebanese capital of Beirut, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has expressed the country's full readiness to render any necessary help.

In a post on his official Twitter account on Tuesday, Zarif said Iranians thoughts and prayers are with the "great and resilient people of Lebanon."

The top Iranian diplomat also called on the Lebanese people and government to "stay strong.”

Our thoughts and prayers are with the great and resilient people of Lebanon.

As always, Iran is fully prepared to render assistance in any way necessary.

Stay strong, Lebanon.

🖤🇱🇧

— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) August 4, 2020

A warehouse at the Beirut Port caught fire on Tuesday afternoon, triggering a huge explosion, Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) reported.

Several smaller explosions were heard before the bigger one occurred.

Footage shared on social media captured the moment of the bigger explosion, with a colossal shock wave seen traveling fast across several hundreds of meters and shrouding the area in thick smoke.

The health ministry in Lebanon announced that the death toll from the massive explosion in Beirut stood at more than 70, and the number of injured was over 3,700.

Huge blast in Lebanese capital: Over 70 killed, nearly 4,000 injured

A massive explosion has ripped through the Lebanese capital of Beirut, leaving more than 70 people dead and thousands of others injured.

Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab vowed that those responsible for the massive blast in Beirut would be held to account, also calling for international assistance to help the country, which is already beset by economic crises.

Diab announced three days of national mourning for the victims of the deadly blast in Lebanon, also declaring a state of emergency across the country for two weeks.

Iran top security official condoles with Lebanon

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani expressed heartfelt condolences to the people of Lebanon for the tragic incident, and said Tehran was ready to help Beirut by all means.

“I offer my heartfelt condolences to the president, the government and the people of Lebanon on the explosion in Beirut and the death and injury of a number of Lebanese people,” Shamkhani said in a tweet in Persian.

“We share the great sorrow of Lebanon, and we stand by its proud and resilient people for any help and assistance,” he added.

حادثه‌ انفجار در #بیروت و جان باختن و مجروح شدن تعدادی از مردم عزیز #لبنان را از صمیم قلب به رئیس جمهور، دولت و ملت لبنان تسلیت میگویم.
در غم بزرگ‌ لبنان عزیز، شریک هستیم و در کنار مردم سرافراز و مقاوم آن برای هرگونه کمک و مساعدت ایستاده‌ایم.

— علی شمخانی (@alishamkhani_ir) August 4, 2020

Lebanon's prime minister said a committee to investigate the Beirut Port disaster would be formed, and that the panel would prepare its report within five days.

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