Lebanon's Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah on Friday repeated pledges to import Iranian fuel should shortages across the country persist, saying that all logistical steps for that possibility were complete.
Nasrallah said earlier in June Iran could supply fuel to Lebanon in local pounds, avoiding a foreign currency crunch.
For weeks worsening fuel shortages on the back of Lebanon's deepening financial crisis have forced motorists to queue for hours for very little gasoline.
"I want to stress that I promised and I'm still promising ... if we have to go to Iran to get gasoline and fuel oil we will, even if it causes a problem," Nasrallah said in a televised speech.
Earlier on Friday caretaker prime minister Hassan Diab approved a decision to import fuel at a weaker Lebanese pound to dollar exchange rate, in effect decreasing the subsidy on gasoline.
"Everything is ready....all we need is permission to move," Nasrallah said, adding that this would not be done through the central bank in order to avoid violating US sanctions aimed at choking off Iranian oil exports.
Asked about how the United States would react were Iranian shipments to arrive at Beirut ports, US ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea had earlier told local broadcaster al Jadeed that was not a viable solution to the problem.
"What Iran is looking for is some kind of satellite state that they can exploit to pursue their agenda," she said.
Lebanon's long fuel lines have caused squabbles amongst motorists where gunshots were fired in several incidents.
On Friday, Nasrallah warned of civil violence. "In all honesty, if you shoot at each other at gas stations, that doesn't solve the crisis," he said.
Report by Reuters
"strike" - Google News
June 26, 2021 at 10:30PM
https://ift.tt/3jh8jrF
Iran's Oil And Petrochemical Workers Threaten To Expand Current Strike - Iran International
"strike" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2WheuPk
https://ift.tt/2VWImBB
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Iran's Oil And Petrochemical Workers Threaten To Expand Current Strike - Iran International"
Post a Comment