In a statement issued on Friday morning, the ministry described the move as another example of “rogue behavior” and the US ruling establishment’s disregard for the fundamental principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, particularly the basic principle of respect for the national sovereignty of states.
The Foreign Ministry also strongly condemned the US sanctions against several representatives of Hezbollah in the Lebanese Parliament, officials affiliated with the Amal Movement, and several Lebanese military and security officials.
According to the statement, these “despicable measures” are aimed at undermining Lebanon’s national sovereignty and stirring discord within Lebanese society, and demonstrate the continued complicity of the US ruling establishment with the aggressive and occupying Zionist regime in continuing military aggression and committing heinous crimes against Lebanon.
The statement added that various Lebanese groups and communities would undoubtedly defend Lebanon’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity by preserving national unity and cohesion, and would thwart the Zionist regime’s sinister objectives by repelling aggression and ending its occupation in Lebanon.
The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms its determination to strengthen its friendly and historic relations with Lebanon in various fields and in line with the interests of the two nations, the statement added.
The US on Thursday announced sanctions against nine individuals, including Iran's designated ambassador to Lebanon, for what it called obstructing the peace process in Lebanon and impeding the disarmament of Hezbollah.
The nine include four Hezbollah members, including Mohamed Abdel-Mottaleb Fanich, a leader in Hezbollah’s executive council; Nizammeddine Fadlallah, one of the group’s elected members of the Lebanese parliament, and longtime officials Ibrahim al-Moussawi and Hussein Al-Hajj Hassan, according to the US Treasury.
Also on the list was Iran’s ambassador-designate and two security officials with the Hezbollah-allied Amal Movement, Ahmad Asaad Baalbaki and Ali Ahmad Safawi.
Finally, two security officials – a branch chief with the Lebanese Armed Forces, Samir Hamadi, and Khattar Nasser Eldin, a top official with the General Directorate for General Security – faced sanctions for allegedly sharing “important intelligence” with Hezbollah over the past year, the Treasury said.
In response, Hezbollah said in a statement that the sanctions were an “attempt to intimidate the free Lebanese people” and would have “absolutely no practical effect on our strategic choices”.