US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday that “Hezbollah stands in the way of the Lebanese people's dreams, is represented in the parliament and pretends to support the Lebanese state,” noting that it will take courage for Lebanon to stand up to Hezbollah’s criminality, terror, threats.
In a joint press conference with Lebanon’s FM Gebran Bassil, Pompeo noted that Iran does not want this situation to change, and it sees stability in Lebanon as a threat to its ambitions, pointing out that “Iranian companies and their attempts in money laundering put Lebanon under the International Law’s microscope."
“The United States will continue to exert pressure on Iran to end its terrorist behavior,” he stated, noting that Iran’s support to Hezbollah poses a danger on the Lebanese state and undermines the peace chances between the Palestinians and Israelis.
"Our pressure on Iran is simple. It's aimed at cutting off the funding for terrorists and it's working," he said.
Pompeo hoped that the Lebanese government will be able to meet the needs of the Lebanese people, stressing that the United States will continue supporting the Lebanese people for a better future.
On the issue of the refugees, the US official said that they support the refugees’ return as soon as possible.