Pompeo Mad at Hezbollah for Thwarting US Plots in Region

Qassemi, in a statement on Sunday, pointed to Pompeo’s comments against the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah, and said Tehran “totally understands the US’ outrage over the praiseworthy performance and role of the resistance forces, the Hezbollah, and the wise people of the region, and all those who foiled the US’ new colonialist and ominous plots in the region.”

Such remarks and stances stem from the failure of Washington’s destructive policies in the region, the Iranian spokesperson said.

They also “indicate the dissatisfaction and excessive outrage of the irrational rulers of the US over the popular solidarity and unity in Lebanon and the restoration of calm and stability in the Arab state, especially after the formation of its government,” he added.

The Iranian diplomat referred to Pompeo’s remarks against Hezbollah, and lashed out at him for making such “rude and unwise” remarks and raising “baseless, false, hackneyed, and futile” claims and accusations against a major political and legal part of Lebanon while he was visiting the Arab country.

He rejected Pompeo’s latest remarks as “provocative, meddlesome, and undiplomatic”.

In his Sunday comments, Qassemi said Hezbollah enjoys the popular backing of the majority of the Lebanese nation, and holds major seats in the country’s government and parliament.

Qassemi pointed to Washington’s long-lasting policy of intimidating regional governments, and said, “Now that it has failed to realize its ominous goals in the sensitive region of the Middle East, the US is resorting to the worn-out, hackneyed, and outdated trick of intimidating and threatening others in a bid to impose its hegemonic policies and behavior.”

To do that, Washington not only tries to create a rift among other countries, but also levels groundless accusations against others, he added.

“While respecting the government and nation of Lebanon and the independent will of the country, Iran stresses that it will tap into all its capacities in order to promote solidarity and unity in Lebanon, and to reinforce bilateral ties with the country in issues that are in the interest of the Iranian and Lebanese people,” Qassemi said.

In his recent trip to Beirut, Pompeo expressed concern over the role of Hezbollah in the Arab country, saying that the Lebanese nation must pick a side.

“Lebanon and the Lebanese people face a choice: bravely move forward as an independent and proud nation or allow the dark ambitions of Iran and Hezbollah to dictate your future,” he said during a joint news conference with his Lebanese counterpart Gebran Bassil on Friday.

Bassil, however, rejected Pompeo’s comments, saying that “Hezbollah is a Lebanese party, not a terrorist group, and it enjoys a wide popular base.”

Washington claims that the Lebanese resistance movement condones terrorism despite the fact that Hezbollah has been involved in a fierce fight against Takfiri terror groups, including the ISIL and al-Nusra Front, thus preventing the spillover of the militancy gripping neighboring Syria into Lebanon.

Hezbollah has also supported the Syrian army in its fight against foreign-sponsored terrorists, who have been wreaking havoc in the Arab country since March 2011.

On Saturday, Lebanese President Michel Aoun told Pompeo that the Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, has a popular support in the country.

Earlier, the long-serving speaker of Lebanon's parliament, Nabih Berri, told Pompeo that American sanctions against Hezbollah were having a "negative impact on Lebanon and the Lebanese”.

Berri told the top US diplomat in a meeting in Beirut that Hezbollah is a Lebanese political party whose members are in the government and parliament, and that it is carrying out “resistance” against Israel to free Lebanese territory from Israeli occupation.

Back in mid-January, the Iranian embassy in Beirut deplored the anti-Iran remarks by US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale during his visit to Lebanon, stressing Tehran's firm decision to continue its stabilizing role in the region.

"David Hale's comments cannot be considered in any framework but flagrant interference and dictation to others. The US is seeking to start war and sedition among countries and different spectra of a country," the embassy said in a statement on Tuesday, according to the Arabic-language al-Nashrah news website.

It reminded Hale of his country's support for the ISIL terrorist group, saying that many regional states would have been entangled in bloodshed and extensive unrests had Iran and its allies in the resistance front not made sacrifices in the fight against the terrorist groups and Washington.

The statement referred to Iran's military advisory role in Syria, saying that the presence does not need the permission of any trans-regional states and is based on coordination and demand of the legal government in Syria.

"Iran will also continue its constructive role to strengthen stability, security and progress in Lebanon within the framework of bilateral relations with the Lebanese government and the country," it concluded.

The statement came after Hale claimed that the US would step up efforts to counter what he called as Iran's "dangerous activities" around the region including the financing and activities of Lebanon's Hezbollah.

He spoke following talks he held with Lebanese politicians at the end of an official visit.

Iran and Hezbollah resistance group have helped the Syrian government in confronting the terrorist groups since the very first days of war in the country.

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