Lebanon's Deputy Speaker Calls Nasrallah's Proposal for Defense System from Iran Impractical

On the eve of the Iranian Foreign Minister's visit to Lebanon, Eli Ferzli, the Deputy Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, stated that Lebanon "will not dare" to request military equipment and air defense systems from Iran. Ferzli made these remarks on Friday, February 8, in an interview with China's Xinhua News Agency, responding to a proposal by Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah. Last week, during a speech celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Nasrallah suggested that Lebanon, as a "friend of Iran," should ask Tehran for air defense systems to help counter Israel. This proposal came in light of Israeli fighter jets repeatedly entering Lebanese airspace during their attacks over the past four years against "Iranian targets" and Hezbollah-affiliated sites in Syria. Nasrallah questioned Lebanese leaders during his speech, asking, "What are you afraid of?" Eli Ferzli, Deputy to Nabih Berri, the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, told Xinhua that Lebanon's sovereignty "does not have the courage for such a move" as it would affect Lebanon's relations with the West. He noted that Lebanon's financial system is dependent on the West. Alin Aoun, a member of the Lebanese Parliament from the Free Patriotic Movement, also told Xinhua that receiving military equipment from Iran would negatively impact current U.S. cooperation with the Lebanese Army. However, Aoun mentioned that receiving assistance from Iran in the fields of electricity or pharmaceuticals should not be mixed with politics. In his recent speech, Nasrallah highlighted Iran's advancements over the past four decades and stated that Iran is willing to share its capabilities with Arab nations without any expectations. He emphasized that Lebanon is facing issues with electricity and medicine, and Iran, having excelled in these areas, could be a partner for Lebanon. Discussions among Lebanese politicians regarding Nasrallah's proposals for assistance from Iran, especially concerning air defense equipment, are ongoing as Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian Foreign Minister, is set to arrive in Beirut on Sunday, February 10. This will be Zarif's fourth visit to Lebanon since the beginning of Hassan Rouhani's government in 2013, occurring just days after the formation of a new Lebanese government. Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated that Iran welcomes the formation of the new Lebanese government, asserting that "this success can have positive effects for Lebanon and the entire region." Hezbollah, which formed a strong parliamentary faction in alliance with Lebanese allies following the elections eight months ago, holds three ministries in the new Lebanese government. Meanwhile, the U.S. has warned about Hezbollah's increasing influence in the Lebanese government, with officials suggesting that Hezbollah could turn the Ministry of Health into a source for "money laundering." However, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson emphasized that the formation of the Lebanese government is the result of careful and precise work under the dialogue among various ethnicities, sects, and political parties in Lebanon, and that this government should be supported to operate independently and without external interference in the path of Lebanon's development, security, and stability. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Zarif will meet with Michel Aoun, the President of Lebanon, and Jibran Bassil, the Foreign Minister of Lebanon, during his two-day stay. However, there has been no mention of a potential meeting with Saad Hariri, the Prime Minister of Lebanon. Additionally, the Iranian Foreign Ministry's report did not mention a possible meeting between Zarif and the Secretary-General of Hezbollah during his two-day visit, although it is expected that such a meeting will be on the agenda, similar to his previous trips to Lebanon. Meanwhile, the family of Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese IT expert who has been imprisoned in Iran for three and a half years, called on Hassan Nasrallah on Saturday, February 20, to help secure Zakka's release. Zakka, who also holds permanent residency in the U.S. and studied there, attended a conference on information technology and entrepreneurship for women in Tehran in September 2015 at the official invitation of Hassan Rouhani's government but was arrested by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Shahindokht Molaverdi, a former deputy of Hassan Rouhani who hosted the government meeting and sent the official invitation to Zakka, told the Associated Press four months ago that Iran had made a mistake in this case, but Rouhani's government failed to secure Zakka's release. Iran has accused Zakka of espionage for the U.S. and sentenced him to ten years in prison. The U.S. government and Zakka's family consider him a "hostage" in the hands of the Iranian government. There has been no news regarding Nasrallah's response to the Zakka family's request for mediation to secure the release of this Lebanese citizen.