Iran Renews Support for Lebanon, Blasts West’s Dictates
BEIRUT (Dispatches) — Iran said Friday that Western countries should not take advantage of the massive explosion in Beirut last week that killed scores and wounded thousands of people to dictate their own policies on the tiny Arab country.
The comments by Iran’s Foreign Minister Muhammad Javad Zarif in Beirut came as a senior U.S. official and France’s defense minister were also in the country. The Aug. 4 blast at Beirut’s port, the result of thousands of tons of ammonium nitrate igniting and setting off a massive explosion, killed nearly 180 people, injured 6,000 and caused widespread damage in the capital.
Lebanon’s government resigned earlier this week under pressure and consultations between rival groups are ongoing over who will replace Hassan Diab as prime minister.
Western leaders have said they will not send aid into the country before major reforms take place – meaning they want the country to remove political groups and individuals who are not open to the West’s dictates.
During a visit to Beirut last week, French President Emmanuel Macron met political leaders in Lebanon and called on them to create a "new political order.”
Lebanese local media reported that the U.S. wants the new government in Lebanon to exclude the Hezbollah resistance movement.
"We believe that Lebanon as government and people are the side that decide on this,” Zarif said after meeting with outgoing Lebanese counterpart Charbel Wehbi. "No foreign side should take advantage of the catastrophic conditions and the needs of Lebanon to impose dictates that are in their interests.”
He described reported U.S. attempts to dictate and impose a government leaving out major Lebanese political factions as "inhumane.” Zarif added that he raised the possibility of cooperation between Tehran and Beirut in the fields of reconstruction and improving Lebanon’s crumbling electricity sector.
Tehran and private Iranian companies are ready to help Lebanon with reconstruction and rehabilitating the country’s electricity sector, he said.
Zarif said Lebanon "is sovereign and free” and should be in charge of the investigation into the blast "but other parties can help and we are ready to offer help if asked.”
Meanwhile, President Michel Aoun met Friday with U.S. Undersecretary for Political Affairs David Hale and told him that the priority of the new government will be to conduct reforms and fight corruption, according to Aoun’s office.
On Thursday, Hale said the FBI will join Lebanese and other international investigators in the probe of Beirut’s massive explosion.
Earlier on Friday, the UN humanitarian affairs agency said in its report that the explosion has affected operations at six hospitals, and damaged more than 20 clinics in the parts of Beirut worst hit by the blast.
"A preliminary rapid assessment within a 15-kilometre radius of the explosions, has revealed that, out of 55 medical facilities, only half are fully operational and around 40% have suffered moderate to serious damage and need rehabilitation,” the report said.
It is still not known what caused the Aug. 4 fire that ignited nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in Beirut’s port. But documents have emerged in the wake of the explosion that show the country’s top leadership and security officials were aware of the chemicals being stored in the city port.
Lebanon’s Parliament on Thursday approved a state of emergency in Beirut in its first session since the tragic explosion last week, granting the military sweeping powers amid riots instigated by foreign parties.
Some 120 schools, used by 50,000 students, have been damaged. More than 1,000 of nearly 50,000 residential units were severely damaged, the UN report said.
More than 170,000 residents’ apartments were damaged, according to the UN report.
Despite damage to the silos in the Beirut port, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said food shortages are not expected.
The blast struck Beirut in the midst of a crippling financial and economic crisis, and the UN predicted people will have difficulties restoring or fixing their homes. But at least 55% of buildings assessed were rented, which may allow people to move elsewhere, the UN said.
According to the world body, the Beirut port is operating at 30% capacity and the Tripoli port in the country’s north, at 70% . That is allowing for food and goods to continue to flow. The World Food Program is bringing in a three-month supply of wheat flour and grains.
However, the UN humanitarian affairs agency said it is concerned about a surge in coronavirus cases, particularly as social distancing is relaxed during the widespread volunteering to help those affected by the blast and protests against the government and political elite.
The comments by Iran’s Foreign Minister Muhammad Javad Zarif in Beirut came as a senior U.S. official and France’s defense minister were also in the country. The Aug. 4 blast at Beirut’s port, the result of thousands of tons of ammonium nitrate igniting and setting off a massive explosion, killed nearly 180 people, injured 6,000 and caused widespread damage in the capital.
Lebanon’s government resigned earlier this week under pressure and consultations between rival groups are ongoing over who will replace Hassan Diab as prime minister.
Western leaders have said they will not send aid into the country before major reforms take place – meaning they want the country to remove political groups and individuals who are not open to the West’s dictates.
During a visit to Beirut last week, French President Emmanuel Macron met political leaders in Lebanon and called on them to create a "new political order.”
Lebanese local media reported that the U.S. wants the new government in Lebanon to exclude the Hezbollah resistance movement.
"We believe that Lebanon as government and people are the side that decide on this,” Zarif said after meeting with outgoing Lebanese counterpart Charbel Wehbi. "No foreign side should take advantage of the catastrophic conditions and the needs of Lebanon to impose dictates that are in their interests.”
He described reported U.S. attempts to dictate and impose a government leaving out major Lebanese political factions as "inhumane.” Zarif added that he raised the possibility of cooperation between Tehran and Beirut in the fields of reconstruction and improving Lebanon’s crumbling electricity sector.
Tehran and private Iranian companies are ready to help Lebanon with reconstruction and rehabilitating the country’s electricity sector, he said.
Zarif said Lebanon "is sovereign and free” and should be in charge of the investigation into the blast "but other parties can help and we are ready to offer help if asked.”
Meanwhile, President Michel Aoun met Friday with U.S. Undersecretary for Political Affairs David Hale and told him that the priority of the new government will be to conduct reforms and fight corruption, according to Aoun’s office.
On Thursday, Hale said the FBI will join Lebanese and other international investigators in the probe of Beirut’s massive explosion.
Earlier on Friday, the UN humanitarian affairs agency said in its report that the explosion has affected operations at six hospitals, and damaged more than 20 clinics in the parts of Beirut worst hit by the blast.
"A preliminary rapid assessment within a 15-kilometre radius of the explosions, has revealed that, out of 55 medical facilities, only half are fully operational and around 40% have suffered moderate to serious damage and need rehabilitation,” the report said.
It is still not known what caused the Aug. 4 fire that ignited nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in Beirut’s port. But documents have emerged in the wake of the explosion that show the country’s top leadership and security officials were aware of the chemicals being stored in the city port.
Lebanon’s Parliament on Thursday approved a state of emergency in Beirut in its first session since the tragic explosion last week, granting the military sweeping powers amid riots instigated by foreign parties.
Some 120 schools, used by 50,000 students, have been damaged. More than 1,000 of nearly 50,000 residential units were severely damaged, the UN report said.
More than 170,000 residents’ apartments were damaged, according to the UN report.
Despite damage to the silos in the Beirut port, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said food shortages are not expected.
The blast struck Beirut in the midst of a crippling financial and economic crisis, and the UN predicted people will have difficulties restoring or fixing their homes. But at least 55% of buildings assessed were rented, which may allow people to move elsewhere, the UN said.
According to the world body, the Beirut port is operating at 30% capacity and the Tripoli port in the country’s north, at 70% . That is allowing for food and goods to continue to flow. The World Food Program is bringing in a three-month supply of wheat flour and grains.
However, the UN humanitarian affairs agency said it is concerned about a surge in coronavirus cases, particularly as social distancing is relaxed during the widespread volunteering to help those affected by the blast and protests against the government and political elite.