Iran rejects US envoy’s ‘worthless remarks’ over Tehran sending oil tankers to Lebanon

The Iranian embassy in Lebanon has censured the US ambassador’s interference in the Tehran-Beirut ties, rejecting her remarks on the arrival of Iranian oil tankers in Beirut as worthless.

“The arrival of Iranian oil tankers in Lebanon [took place] regardless of the American ambassador's worthless remarks. She must not meddle in the friendly ties between the two states and nations of Iran and Lebanon,” the Iranian embassy said via Twitter on Saturday.

On Friday, US Ambassador to Beirut Dorothy Shea said the Iranian delivery of fuel shipments to Beirut to make up for the severe shortage in the country was not a “viable solution” to the problem.

“The United States has stood by the people of Lebanon and we will continue to stand by the people of Lebanon, but what Iran is looking for is some kind of satellite state that they can exploit to pursue their agenda,” Shea claimed in an interview on Beirut-based al-Jadeed TV.

She further said there are other alternatives to provide fuel and electricity to the Lebanese people, claiming that eradicating corruption from the Lebanese energy and electricity sectors would resolve “half of the problem immediately.”

“There are much better solutions than turning to Iran,” she added.

Amid Lebanon’s deepening financial crisis, fuel shortages in the Arab country in recent weeks have forced motorists to queue for hours for very little gasoline.

Later on Friday, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary general of Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah, repeated pledges to import Iranian fuel should shortages across the country persist.

“I want to stress that I promised and I’m still promising ... if we have to go to Iran to get gasoline and fuel oil we will, even if it causes a problem,” Nasrallah said in a televised speech.

“Everything is ready....all we need is permission to move,” Nasrallah said.

Hezbollah is leading an economy of resistance in Lebanon

Hoping to lessen the plight of the Lebanese, who have been going through a severe economic and political crisis for over a year, Hezbollah has opened supermarkets selling inexpensive goods at subsidized prices.

The Hezbollah leader also called on those who reject Iranian fuel shipments to find an alternative, pointing out that Hezbollah will welcome any endeavor in this regard.

“If you reject the Iranian aids, why don’t you seek that of the USA or the [Persian] Gulf countries?” he added.

‘Iran rejects discussing Lebanon in Vienna talks’

Elsewhere in his remarks, Nasrallah rejected accusations that Hezbollah is hindering the formation of the Lebanese cabinet due to the ongoing negotiations in the Austrian capital, Vienna, which are strictly limited to reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement.

According to Nasrallah, Iran has always rejected to include any other issue, including issues relating to Hezbollah and Lebanon, in the Vienna talks.

“The Islamic Republic does not accept to negotiate on behalf of anyone, neither the Lebanese, Syrians, Yemenis, Palestinians, nor the Bahrainis,” he said, adding, “Iran just helps as a friendly country upon request.”

Hezbollah: US’s potential return to JCPOA great victory for Iran

Hezbollah says the US’s potential return to the 2015 nuclear deal would constitute a “great victory” for Iran.

Iran and the parties to the nuclear agreement, also called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), have been involved in Vienna talks for over two months with the aim of coordinating the full implementation of the deal by all sides, especially the US which left the historic accord three years ago.

The talks began after the US decided that its so-called maximum pressure against Tehran has proven a failure.

Last month, Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said the United States’ potential return to the JCPOA would constitute a “great victory” for the Islamic Republic.

“And any victory for Iran is a victory for the whole (resistance) front,” Qassem told Lebanon’s al-Manar television network on April 11.

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