TEHRAN – Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani on Monday rejected reports that Iran planned to ship free fuel to Lebanon.
In comments at a press conference here, Kanaani made it clear that Iran and Lebanon are engaged in negotiations about a package of proposals for the supply of energy, while there is no talk of sending free fuel to the Arab country.
“Relations between Iran and Lebanon are friendly and Iran has always tried to play its constructive role in helping resolve Lebanon’s problems,” he said.
Helping the friends resolve their economic problems is part of Iran’s principled policy, he added.
“Upon a request from the Lebanese government, Iran expressed readiness to weigh solutions for economic assistance to Lebanon. Negotiations are underway within that framework,” the spokesman explained.
His comments came after Western media outlets claimed that Lebanon was preparing to send a delegation to Iran for talks on acquiring free fuel to ease power outages without being exposed to U.S. sanctions.
Due to its low foreign exchange reserves, Lebanon has had difficulty importing enough oil to address ongoing energy shortages.
Last September, Lebanon received tankers of Iranian gas oil in a move facilitated by the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement to ease the fuel crunch.
The plan to buy Iranian fuel, announced by Hezbollah Secretary General Seyed Hassan Nasrallah in August, was seen as a watershed in Lebanon’s campaign to confront U.S. sanctions.