Report: Iranian Threats Preceded BLOM Bank Blast
The explosion that rocked Beirut Sunday evening and that targeted the HQ of BLOM Bank, was preceded by a series of “threat” messages the most recent was a report published by the Iranian Fars News Agency, al-Mustaqbal daily reported on Monday.
The message enclosed warnings attributed to a figure associate of Hizbullah against the banking sector in Lebanon, it said.
The Iranian News Agency's report was published only two hours prior the explosion and it included a clear threat that Hizbullah is ready to put into implementation a plan similar to the “May 7” incidents in 2008, that brought the country to the brink of a new civil war.
In 2008, Gunmen belonging to Hizbullah and its allies swept through Beirut’s neighborhoods after the government of then PM Fouad Saniora tried to dismantle the group's telecommunications network.
The fighting left scores dead and wounded.
Mustaqbal added “it is clear that there is a close link between the message intended from the bank blast and the mounting tension between Hizbullah and the banking sector after the U.S. sanctions against the party.”
But sources of Lebanon's Central Bank told the newspaper that “the message will not work because the banking sector has no option but to implement the U.S. and International laws.”
Saad Azhari, the head of BLOM bank, said no one should jump to conclusion as to who was behind the attack.
“We are interested in being a serious bank that serves the interests of all (Lebanese). We don't take measures to harm any one particular group," he told reporters at the scene of Sunday's blast in the Verdun area.
The blast preceded several fervent statements against Lebanon's banking sector, particularly when the Fars News Agency assured that the “confrontation has become inevitable between Hizbullah and the banks,” it said.
The report expressed dismay at the stance of the Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh when he said that Lebanon cannot but abide by the U.S. laws.
The report voiced threats against Salameh and said that “abiding by the US laws is gravely endangering the banking sector.”
A U.S. law was voted in December by the Congress and it imposes sanctions on banks that deal with Hizbullah.
In May, Lebanon's central bank instructed the country's banks and financial institutions to comply with the U.S. law.
Washington has labeled Hizbullah a global terrorist group since 1995, accusing it of a long list of attacks including the bombing of the U.S. Embassy and Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983.
almost 9 years
Country within country, it's a lie when they say people,army,resistance.
The people all people and army do not support having their electricity and telecommunication stolen by the so called resistance supported by Iran.
If the resistance taking orders from the Lebanese government which represent ALL Lebanese then it's another story and topic.
Who has arms in this country outside the state army? It's both fanatics hizbollah and Isis supporters. Both are working to destroy and continue the status quo of hegemony to destabilize this beautiful country
almost 9 years
A bomb explodes by a bank, no casualties and all March 14 starts screaming and pointing fingers alongside America.
Bombs hits Beirut and kills hundreds, and no hysteria from March 14 what so ever, that does indeed show that March 14 cares more about money than they do about Lebanese lives.
almost 9 years
Are you really and truly Lebanese? Do you feel in your heart you are Lebanese? Are you proud of being Lebanese and nothing but Lebanese????
almost 9 years
....nassrallah said Iran does not interfere in other countries affairs! btw, isn't Iran complying with the U.S sanctions as part of its re-integration into the world's economy through the nuclear deal.
almost 9 years
and israel, angry that the US sanctions hezbi accounts in lebanon would bomb the bank, to accuse hezbis of doing it!!!! in both cases hezbis wins......LOL
either israel is with hezbis or hezbis did it to whine and complain against americans while at the same time they boasted they do not need lebanese banks to tranfer their money!!! such liars they are....
almost 9 years
he is filth by definition
almost 9 years
bigjohn
Iran could not use the American banking system because of the world sanctions. Now that they signed the nuclear deal, they have to. That is what they have been negotiating for years.
almost 9 years
To point fingers with no evidence, as March 14 does best.
almost 9 years
Coming from you fortunately Mystic, your words don't mean much. Now do your best to redirect like you and your other fake accounts always do.
almost 9 years
Because you have destroyed this beautiful country by destroying the "living together".
You seem not to understand....
almost 9 years
Their plan is to destroy Lebanon to rebuild "Teheran-on-Sea".
almost 9 years
This comes as no surprise whatsoever. It's getting old and their threat tactics don't have that same effect. They'll get what they deserve. Now go ahead an try to whine about Saudi/Zionism assumptions like you always do, I don't support them either :)
almost 9 years
and did they use the american banking system to pay for those planes in dollars bigjohn?
almost 9 years
do you read and write persian if the link is provided?
http://www.lebanese-forces.com/2016/06/13/bloom-bank-explosion-hezbollah/
وكالة “فارس” الإيرانية تستبق الإنفجار بالتهديد .. ومصادر مصرف لبنان: لن يُجدي نفعا
وجاءت الرسالة مسبوقة بمواقف تفجيرية ضد القطاع المصرفي بلغت ذروتها في وكالة “فارس” التي أكدت أن المواجهة أصبحت “شبه حتمية” بين “حزب الله” والمصارف”، مضيفة أن الحزب يريد أن تبقى المواجهة معه حصراً “وإلا سنكون أمام ردات فعل متوقعة وغير متوقعة.. حين يداهمه خطر التأثير على أشرف الناس أو القضايا المحرّمة كـ”شبكة الاتصالات السلكية” في السابع من أيار 2008، فكيف الحال إذا كان الأمر يختصّ بالإثنين معاً، كما في قضية الحرب المالية”.
almost 9 years
the traitor above is not educated enough to know that any banking transaction in U.S dollars has to go through the banking system in New York.
You have destroyed the most beautiful thing we had in Lebanon: "the living together".