Iranian fuel shipment to Hezbollah helping the Lebanese or political agenda?

The 33,000 tons of fuel that will soon reach Hezbollah in Lebanon from Iran will barely meet the country’s needs for three days.

Hassan Nasrallah the Secretary-General of the Iran-backed Hezbollah had previously announced an agreement with the Islamic Republic to import fuel. But contrary to what Hezbollah has been saying the Iran-Hezbollah deal is more political than a fundamental step in helping the people of Lebanon.

Lebanese diesel consumption is 15 million liters per day. The cargo coming from Iran is equal to 40 million liters. Thus, the imported fuel lasts only three days.

Hence the decision of Hezbollah and the Islamic Republic in this regard is more political than a serious measure to meet Lebanon’s fuel needs.

Hezbollah and the Islamic Republic are attempting to show that fuel imports are possible despite sanctions and they hope to attract back the support of Lebanese people for Hezbollah, who have been rejecting the group’s presence in Lebanon increasingly during recent years.

Lebanon is experiencing severe fuel shortages as a result of years of mismanagement and economic corruption caused by the influence of Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group.

Iran, meanwhile, is grappling with a number of crises that have led to water, electricity, and gas disruptions. Also in November of 2019, the price of gasoline in Iran tripled and the government massacred at least 1,500 protesters who took to the streets.

Iran is trying to position itself as a fuel supplier to Lebanon to empower its Lebanese proxy. The goal is to force Lebanon to become dependent on Iran and then all the gas and fuel going to Lebanon will come through Hezbollah, so Hezbollah can provide it to allies and friends.

Overall, Iran’s goal is to impoverish Lebanon, destroy its middle and upper class, encourage its Sunni and Christian community to emigrate, so that its proxy will grow in power and that all that will remain is a hollowed-out Lebanese state that is a province within a larger Hezbollahstan that is more powerful than Lebanon.

Source: The Independent
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