TEHRAN -- An Iranian legislator said Sunday the Islamic Republic must supply fuel to the countries that are members of the resistance front and ease their energy shortages.
“We must offer any help we can to the resistance bloc, so that they would not face any problem for supply of fuel, which is among the basic needs of any country,” Hadi Beiginejad, a member of the parliament’s energy commission, said.
“Countries like Lebanon, Syria, and Venezuela are very important to Iran, because they stood by our side in time of need. Therefore, we must take steps to solve these countries’ problems as much as we can,” he said.
The MP said just as late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad firmly sided with Iran during the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s and did not withhold any help, “we must rush to assist countries like Syria and Lebanon, which are now in trouble”.
The lawmaker went on to say that several fuel-laden ships have already been sent to Lebanon and there has been no problem.
Lebanese traders, Beiginejad said, are responsible for the security of the Beirut-bound fuel shipment, and they certainly know how to protect the cargoes.
“The Lebanese nation is currently under pressure and in hardship. Therefore, we must not deny any help to solve their problems as a friendly country and an ally.”
Hezbollah head Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said Friday a third shipment of Iranian fuel had been agreed to ease crippling shortages in Lebanon.
“We have agreed to start loading a third vessel,” Nasrallah said in a televised speech.
“The coming days will prove those doubtful about the shipments arriving with fuel wrong … and our words will be clear when the first vessel reaches Lebanon.”