Fathali Expresses Tehran's Readiness to Aid Army, Says Presidential Poll 'Local Affair'
Newly-appointed Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammed Fathali reiterated on Tuesday that his country is ready to provide Lebanese security agencies with all the necessary aid, stressing that the Lebanese presidential poll is a local affair.
“We have announced since day one that we are ready to cooperate with the Lebanese army and all security agencies on high levels,” Fathali said in an interview with As Safir newspaper.
He noted that his country “doesn't place conditions for the cooperation unlike other states that offered the Lebanese army weapons setting a precondition that they wouldn't be used against” Israel.
In January, Saudi Arabia has decided to donate three billion dollars with the aim of purchasing French weapons for the Lebanese army.
The diplomat pointed out that Lebanon is an important country for Iran, considering that the recent security backlash was imposed by the developments in the regions that “entered a critical stage.”
Asked if a regional agreement between Tehran and Saudi Arabia would facilitate the Lebanese presidential elections, Fathali described the polls as “a local affair.”
He expressed belief that “no foreign sides should intervene in the process.”
The Lebanese parliament has failed in several rounds to elect a successor to President Michel Suleiman, whose six-year term expired on May 25 after the March 8 and 14 alliances failed to agree on a compromise candidate.
On Hizbullah's stance regarding the elections, the Iranian official said that the party “is a Lebanese organization that abides by the resistance, it is also a political party... And it's normal for all political movements to have an opinion on any political matter.”
The majority of the March 8 camp's MPs, including Hizbullah's Loyal to the Resistance bloc, have boycotted the parliamentary sessions, leading to a lack of the needed two-thirds quorum.
“Hizbullah is practicing fair and just policies,” Fathali said.
He expressed his staunch support for Hizbullah, a long-standing ally of both Iran and Syria.
Image Credit: As Safir Newspaper
almost 10 years
Iranian aid would make our army truly elite and increase the likelihood of a coordinated defense with a HA special forces. This is far better than a bribe from the world's nest of terrorism, KSA.
almost 10 years
One army defends a nation, not 2. HA should give its weapons over to the army, but I laugh at you for bypassjng this simple fact. If Iran gave a real damn they would have aided the army years ago, so be quiet.
almost 10 years
Zilzal missiles and Haydar tanks that were never tested ?
Or that Barbie drone that ahmadi nijad revealed 2 years ago ?
#fool the sheep
almost 10 years
Tehran, land of Fairy Tales, Lies, and Deceipt ... the forefathers of Nasrallah and his sheep.
The only help our army needs is in dismantling Hezbollah and turning this country into a weapons free country. More weapons won't help it !
almost 10 years
ok lets say it is true. we wants facts not promises.
almost 10 years
Fat7all ghadanfar sho hal asemi lmor3ibi
almost 10 years
The same filthy Zionist lobby that Iran offered to assist in battling the revolution in Iraq ?
Da3esh = Hizbizillah : In faith and in means.
and you truly must be "Fida sirmaiyit el syed"
almost 10 years
@Southern : The LAF doesn't collaborate with Islamic Resistance movements. You are not allowed to use the name "resistance".
Iran cannot be considered a friend of Lebanon because it only serves the goals of the endoctrinated Shiias. It doesn't even help out Shias who do not align themselves with the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon.
Russia a friend ? How is that ? Just because you have a Kalashnikov on your flag (With you weak god holding it because he's powerless without weapons) and Katiouchas doesn't mean Russia is a "friend" of Lebanon.
almost 10 years
gee.. what a pointless rant
almost 10 years
@Southern : The LAF doesn't collaborate with Islamic Resistance movements. You are not allowed to use the name "resistance".
Iran cannot be considered a friend of Lebanon because it only serves the goals of the endoctrinated Shiias. It doesn't even help out Shias who do not align themselves with the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon.
Russia a friend ? How is that ? Just because you have a Kalashnikov on your flag (With you weak god holding it because he's powerless without weapons) and Katiouchas doesn't mean Russia is a "friend" of Lebanon.
almost 10 years
One army defends a nation, not 2, and no stupid equations please.
almost 10 years
Unless HA takes orders from the Army, the Government or the President, HA is a rogue, illegal and paramilitary organisation.
The fact that it takes orders from Iran makes it also guilty of high treason !
Never in the history of the world has there been a resistance + army equation that did not end in chaos, struggle for power, coups or anything else.
Resistances are only needed when lands are occupied and armies are decimated.
The only true resistance Lebanon ever knew was the people's resistance to Syrian occupation which successfully liberated our land from 30 years of occupation, crimes and massacres supported by Hezbollah / Berri n co !
almost 10 years
When did Iran or russia help the laf?
almost 10 years
lol sounds like you're trying to be provocative, but you can't because you're an insignificant nobody, just a little groupie for takfiri goats.
almost 10 years
they did offer help years ago, repeatedly, but this was always refused by successive m14 governments.
almost 10 years
creative comment of the day.
almost 10 years
educate yourself and you ll understand till then you are just a useless ignorant worm crawling in your lies....
The evil iranian regime's propaganda is in full force. Just ask your terror party to hand over its arsenal to the LAF and shut up.