Hezbollah Leader Warns US & Israel Not To Interfere With Iranian Fuel Tanker Bound For Lebanon

Via AlMasdarNews.com, 

On Thursday Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, for the first time gave specifics in terms of a timetable for the Iranian fuel shipment to crisis-hit Lebanon, saying a tanker is now set to sail to Lebanon “within hours”.

The Hezbollah leader also indicated more shipments from Iran will follow, while warning the United States and Israel against interfering.

“We don’t want to get into a challenge with anyone, we don’t want to get into a problem with anyone. We want to help our people,” Nasrallah said. “I say to the Americans and the Israelis that the boat that will sail within hours from Iran is Lebanese territory.”

He warned enemies further that the fuel tanker will be considered Lebanese territory as soon as it sails and will thus be protected. “God willing, this ship and others will arrive safely,” he added.

Nasrallah first unveiled the plans for urgent Iranian assistance to the dire fuel shortage crisis afflicting Lebanon on Sunday, when he said, “I confirm that we will definitely bring diesel and gasoline from Iran, and in the next two days I will inform you when,” while pointing out that “whoever stored and sold fuel on the black market betrayed the trust.”

The announcement has set regional tensions once again on edge, especially given Iranian oil is still under US-led international sections, and any tankers carrying Iranian fuel would pass close to Israel.

Hezbollah: Iran fuel tanker set to sail to Lebanon, defying US sanctionshttps://t.co/2BxC8cz61e pic.twitter.com/8mIS1UH15d

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) August 19, 2021

Nasrallah further said in the fresh Thursday statements that “Despite the siege and sanctions on Iran and the pressures on it, it has never abandoned its allies and has not let down its friends.”