Iran’s defense minister says it is Tehran’s strategic policy to strengthen the Lebanese army. The comments by Gen. Ahmad Vahidi to his visiting Lebanese counterpart, Fayez Ghosn, were posted on the Iranian defense ministry’s website Sunday.
Iran is a key supporter of the Lebanese group Hezbollah. Tehran denies arming the Shiite militant movement, but is believed to funnel it weapons and millions of dollars in funding.
Tehran may be trying to strengthen its independent ties in Lebanon if Assad falls.
Also on Sunday, Iran it had not blocked an oil shipment to Greece, denying earlier reports it had done so in retaliation to the EU phasing in a ban on its key export, the Iranian Student’s News Agency (ISNA) reported.
“There has been no change in Iran’s oil shipment to Greece or any other country. No changes in our shipment schedule,” said Pirouz Mousavi, managing director of the Iranian Oil Terminals Co.
Earlier, Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency said Tehran had refused shipment of 500,000 destined for Greek refiner Hellenic Petroleum, but a Hellenic official denied it.
“That has nothing to do with us … all supplies from Iran have been processed normally,” the official told Reuters.
The European Union decided in January to stop importing Iranian crude as of July 1, the latest in a series of international sanctions aimed at forcing Tehran to halt its sensitive nuclear work, as demanded by the UN Security Council.
Iran stopped selling crude to British and French companies last week after the oil minister said Tehran would cut oil exports to “some” European countries.
Brent crude surged to over $125 a barrel on Friday amid fears of an escalation of tensions after the UN nuclear agency issued a report showing Tehran had increased its most sensitive nuclear work which the West says is part of a weapons program, a charge Tehran denies.
The price of oil has increased over the fear of tightening supplies, including a threat from Tehran to close a vital oil shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz, if attacked.
Israel and the United States have not ruled out military action if diplomacy fails to stop Iran getting nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and has promised a “painful” response to any attack.
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