RNA – In response to criticism from Lebanon’s Interior Minister, Nouhad al-Mashnouq, over Iran’s role in Lebanon, Shaykh Naim Qassem, the deputy secretary-general of Hezbollah, has stressed that Lebanon should not regard having a relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran as a problem.
During a dialogue session between Hezbollah and the Future Movement, al-Mashnouq launched a tirade against Iran. Mashnouq, a member of the pro-Western and pro-Saudi Future Movement, said that Iran’s policy in the region is causing unrest and confrontations wherever it is present. He also insulted Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, and rejected any “insult” against Saudi Arabia, noting that Riyadh has always stood by Lebanon and the Arab countries.
In response to this, Shaykh Qassem explained that Hezbollah prefers that instead of speculation, regional countries should allow Lebanon’s “honourable” relationship with Iran to continue.
Hezbollah’s second-in-command argued that Iran plays an important and constructive role in the region, saying that everyone is well-aware that Iran’s strong support of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon and Palestine is vital. He added that Iran played a vital role in the liberation of southern Lebanon in 2000 and again in the 2006 July War, when Hezbollah bravely resisted Israel’s invasion. This is evidence of Iran’s role in bringing stability to Lebanon.
His Eminence added that Iran’s achievements in the fight against Takfiri terrorism in Iraq and Syria is very important. He stressed that Iran does not interfere in the internal affairs of Lebanon. Iran has always stressed the need for cooperation between the various Lebanese groups and political parties in order to reach consensus in various fields.
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