Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Sunday that Iran sending fuel to Lebanon came according to a normal purchase process made by Lebanese merchants, stressing that “if the Lebanese government also wanted to buy fuel from Iran, it would immediately put it at its disposal.”
Khatibzadeh’s comments were quoted by the Fars News Agency whereby he noted that “the Islamic Republic of Iran is always committed to supporting its friends and friendly governments."
Commenting on statements made by Prime Minister Najib Mikati who considered that Iran’s fuel shipment violates Lebanon’s sovereignty, Khatibzadeh stressed that “the commercial operation took place at the request of Lebanese merchants.”
“The fuel shipment was sent according to a completely normal purchase,” he added.
“I do not comment on Lebanon’s internal affairs but I can reassure you that if the Lebanese government wants tomorrow to buy fuel from us to address the problems of its people, we will put it at its disposal,” he explained.
Khatibzadeh concluded by stressing that peace, security and stability in Lebanon "is more important to Iran than anything else," adding that his country will help the Lebanese government also to succeed in such a matter.
On Friday, Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Iranian fuel shipments imported by the Hezbollah constitute a breach of Lebanon's sovereignty.
"The violation of Lebanon's sovereignty makes me sad," Mikati told CNN in an interview.
Hezbollah started on Thursday bringing tanker trucks carrying fuel from Iran, a move it says should ease a gasoline and fuel crisis in Lebanon.