Iran has said it was prepared to sell weapons to the Lebanon should the government in Beirut seek help to equip its military. On Tuesday, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah had proposed to the unity government of Prime Minister Hariri to formally seek military assistance from Tehran, the Iranian news agency IRNA reported. In Tehran, Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said that Lebanon "is our friend, and its army is also our friend" and if there was a demand [for arms], "we are ready to help that country and conduct weapons transactions with it." Nasrallah, whose movement is backed by Iran and Syria, vowed in a televised speech Hezbollah could help secure the aid for the Lebanon's army, which is still seen as under-equipped compared to the Shiite paramilitary group.
"I vow that Hezbollah will work fervently and capitalize on its friendship with Iran to ensure it helps arm the Lebanese military in any way it can," Nasrallah said. His call came following a US freeze in military aid to Lebanon in the wake of deadly border clashes between Lebanese and Israeli troops four weeks ago.
A US$ 100 million aid package for the Lebanon's military was put on hold earlier this month by two leading members of the House of Representatives over concerns the weapons could be used to attack Israel, and that Hezbollah might have influence over the Lebanese army. Nasrallah’s movement is part of Hariri’s governing coalition.
State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the possibility of Iran selling arms to the Lebanon underscored "the importance both to our national security and the security of the region to continue with our security assistance to the Lebanese army". He added that a review of the aid program to the Lebanon was under way and that "we hope to conclude that soon, and renew assistance".
