Iran offers military aid to Lebanon

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi has expressed the Islamic Republic’s readiness to supply Lebanon with military equipment.

“Lebanon and its army are our friends and the country needs military equipment to defend its borders against Israel,” General Vahidi told Press TV on Sunday on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of the production line of Iran’s longest range artillery shells, known as Base bleed projectiles.

“Some countries that want to have control over Lebanon have announced they will not provide Beirut with military equipment. I say we are ready to supply the Lebanese army with everything it requires,” the Iranian minister said.

General Vahidi’s remarks follow Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah’s call on the Lebanese government to seek military aid from Arab states and Iran.

Nasrallah’s comments echoed those of Lebanon’s President Michel Sleiman who had earlier asked the Islamic Republic to equip and modernize the Lebanese army.

The Hezbollah chief made the call following a US freeze on the granting of military aid to Lebanon.