Response of the IRGC Spokesman Following Nasrallah's Comments on Iran's Support

Ramazan Sharif, the head of the IRGC's public relations, in response to recent comments by Hassan Nasrallah regarding Iran's support and funding for Hezbollah in Lebanon, stated that there should be no concern about Western reactions. Hezbollah has been on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations since 1995, and the European Union also designated its military wing as a terrorist group in the summer of 2013. Accusations related to bombings that have killed civilians in various countries, such as Bulgaria, and the group's involvement in the Syrian civil war have been among the reasons for these actions. Last Friday, Hassan Nasrallah stated in a televised speech that the new round of U.S. sanctions would have no effect on the group, as Hezbollah receives its financial needs not from Lebanese banks but directly from Iran. He added that as long as Iran has money, the group will also receive funds and resources. Ramazan Sharif, in an interview with ISNA on June 27, said, 'Zionists and Westerners have done everything they could against Iran and the Islamic Revolution, and they cannot do anything more.' He added that there should be no concern over Nasrallah's recent remarks. The United States considers Iran to be 'the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world.' One of the main reasons for this accusation, which Tehran has always denied, is the Islamic Republic's support for Hezbollah. These accusations are one of the main reasons for the U.S. non-nuclear sanctions against Iran, which continue to be a significant barrier in banking and financial transactions between Tehran and other countries. Ramazan Sharif stated that Nasrallah's comments were meant to 'provide special reassurance for the front line of the fight' against Israel. He further emphasized that Israel and its allies 'cannot do anything more'; they have made 'very extensive and intensive efforts against the Islamic Republic in the nuclear negotiations and the JCPOA, which continue in the missile domain,' and Nasrallah's remarks do not give them 'more excuses.' In the published interview with ISNA regarding the IRGC spokesman's assessment of Nasrallah's recent comments, the name of the group 'Hamas' was mentioned instead of Hezbollah. The U.S. Congress passed a resolution last December that imposed sanctions on banks associated with Hezbollah. Nasrallah's comments about receiving money from Iran came after this resolution. The head of Lebanon's central bank recently announced that dozens of Hezbollah-related bank accounts and those of individuals and organizations connected to it in that country have been closed.