BEIRUT: Defense Minister Samir Moqbel is expected to discuss an Iranian aid package to the Lebanese Army during this week’s Cabinet session, as top officials in Iran vowed continued support Sunday to Lebanon’s people, Army and resistance.
“Besides arms aid to the Lebanese Army, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to transfer its experience to improve security in Lebanon and the region, and fight terrorism,” Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani told Moqbel in Tehran
“Supporting the Lebanese nation, Army and resistance will still remain on Iran’s agenda,” he added.
According to Iran’s Fars news agency, Moqbel underlined the importance of Iran’s assistance, and said advanced equipment for the Lebanese Army would improve the Army’s operational power against terrorist groups, and help it maintain stability and tranquility in the country.
Moqbel also held talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and Defense Minister Hussein Dehqan
Rouhani said his country would support the peoples of Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, and others who are fighting terrorism.
He spoke during a meeting with Moqbel, who is currently on a three-day visit to Iran to discuss the pledged Iranian military grant to the Lebanese Army. Rouhani hoped that the Lebanese people, with all their sects, would be vigilant and “united in the face of enemies seeking to harm the country’s territorial integrity.”
The Iranian pledge has been at the center of controversy in Lebanon, as Fars reported that at the end of his visit the Lebanese defense minister is due to take Iran’s arms aid back to his country.
But it remained unclear whether Lebanon was going to accept the aid after several ministers affiliated with the March 14 alliance raised concerns over whether the arms transfer would be a violation of U.N. sanctions against Tehran, and some media reports have said that Western diplomats have pressured Lebanon to reject the offer.
Ministerial sources said Moqbel was expected to brief the Lebanese government about his talks in Tehran.
The Iranian media Sunday reported that Tehran would provide the Army with semi- heavy machine guns and ammunition, 120 mm mortars, 120 mm ammunition, 60 mm ammunition, TOW anti-armor missiles, TOW rockets, 155 mm artillery shells, night vision goggles, and T-55 and T-62 tank ammunition.
Echoing Shamkhani, the Iranian foreign minister voiced Tehran’s readiness to provide modern military equipment and strategic assistance to the Lebanese Army “to enable it to gain an upper hand in its fight against terrorism.”
During his trip to Lebanon last month, Shamkhani announced that Iran would provide Lebanon with needed military aid.
The aid aims to help the Lebanese Army battle extremists who have infiltrated the border with Syria. The Army has been engaged with militants from ISIS and the Nusra Front since clashes erupted in the northeastern town of Arsal last month.
While the Army was able to drive the militants out of the town and into its outskirts by the Syrian border, the militants were able to take at least 30 soldiers and police captive during their retreat. At least 27 servicemen remain in the custody of militants positioned on the outskirts of Arsal.
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