US sanctions on Hezbollah will have no effect, Nasrallah says

The secretary general of the Lebanese resistance movement says the latest round of sanctions by the United States and a number of its Persian Gulf Arab allies against the leadership of the group will have no effect and will not harm its officials at all.

Addressing his supporters via a televised speech broadcast live from the Lebanese capital city of Beirut on Friday evening, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah described some of the measures as “new,” stressing that Washington’s objective to keep people away from Hezbollah accounts for the imposition of such sanctions against the anti-Israel resistance movement.

Nasrallah then warned that a number of Lebanese investors and entrepreneurs, who have close ties with Hezbollah, will be targeted as a result of the bans, calling on the government to develop plans which would protect the businessmen against the sanctions.

The Hezbollah chief also strongly dismissed classification of Hezbollah as a terrorist group, emphasizing that it consists of honorable fighters.

Nasrallah went on to say that people from all walks of the Lebanese society proved their loyalty to Hezbollah by voting in favor of the group during the country’s May 6 parliamentary elections.

He stated that US sanctions against Hezbollah are aimed at placing those who support the group under pressure, and punishing them at large.

The Hezbollah head stated that the punitive measures also seek to harm Hezbollah’s social popularity, its allies and supporters, and dry up its financial resources.

He went on to say that the recent announcement of US sanction on Iran is partly due to the Islamic Republic’s firm support for Hezbollah.

“When one refuses to give in to US and Israeli hegemonic policies, and endeavors to be independent, s/he is viewed as a potential threat,” Nasdrallah pointed out.

“The financial pressures which ensue in the wake of US sanctions are due to confronting the policies of the United States and the Zionist regime (of Israel),” he said.

“The United states and the Tel Aviv regime are gravely mistaken to think that by stopping financial funds from reaching Hezbollah, the resistance movement will abandon its activities,” Nasrallah said.

“Sanctions and blacklisting Hezbollah official will by no means discourage people who are fighting for a noble cause,” he commented.

Nasrallah then praised the fallen commanders of Hezbollah for sacrificing their lives for the sake of Lebanon’s freedom, extending his gratitude to Iran and Syria for their support for the resistance movement in the face of Israeli aggressions.

He underlined that Hezbollah is currently much mightier than what it used to be in 2000 when it comes to manpower and possession of sophisticated weapons.

“Resistance fighters deserved victory over Israel in 2000 and 2006 as they had honesty and made enormous sacrifice in their battles against the enemy,” he pointed out.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Nasrallah dismissed Morocco’s accusation that Hezbollah was plotting against it with the Polisario Front, stressing that his movement has no relations whatsoever with the group.

The Hezbollah chief also congratulated the Syrian nation and government for liberation of neighborhoods south of the capital Damascus from the clutches of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

Turning to the formation of the new government in Lebanon, Nasrallah said Hezbollah strongly believes that the new Lebanese administration must be quickly shaped in order to preserve national interests.

“We look forward to a cabinet which would represent politicians from all factions and parties. It is, meanwhile, important for Hezbollah to have a presence in the new cabinet, and will do our utmost for such a presence to be constructive,” the Hezbollah chief said.

He also called for a major campaign against the persisting corruption in Lebanon, stating that “the country will collapse if current flawed policies and corruption are not addressed properly.”