The Lebanese defense minister has said he will pay a visit to Tehran in the near future to follow up on Iran's pledge to grant a donation to the Lebanese army.
Lebanon's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Samir Moqbel said Iran's military grant to the Lebanese army is "unconditional", the Al Bawaba news website reported, according to the Fars news agency.
"In case the grant was appropriate, I will return to Beirut for ministerial decisions," he added.
The Lebanese deputy prime minister expressed hope that the military assistance to the Lebanese army would be granted in accordance with the army's requirements.
Last Tuesday, Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, during a visit to Beirut met with Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam and said Iran would make a donation to the Lebanese army to help the military fight the threat of terrorism.
"The donation comprises equipment that would help the army in its heroic confrontations against this evil terrorism," Shamkhani said after meeting with the Lebanese prime minister.
He also said the purpose of his visit was to hold consultations with Lebanese authorities on the latest regional political and security issues and discuss the ways to increase bilateral cooperation to address common threats.
He said the grant would be presented with no delay and immediately after the imminent visit of the Lebanese defense minister to Tehran.
Lebanon in Dire Need of Arms
A Hezbollah lawmaker urged on Saturday that Lebanon must seriously consider Iran's offer of support to the Lebanese army, citing the country's dire need for arms.
"We should not listen to the conditions placed on us by some countries including the United States," Lebanese MP Nawaf Musawi, from the Hezbollah-aligned Loyalty to the Resistance bloc, said during a ceremony in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, the Daily Star reported.
"We call on Lebanese and the Lebanese government to work seriously and in a responsible manner with the proposal from the Islamic Republic of Iran to assist the Lebanese army."
