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Disarming Hezbollah out of question: Iran

Disarming Hezbollah out of question: Iran
Two fighters from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah stand near Katyusha rockets in the southern village of Ein Qana, Lebanon. (AP file)
Updated 23 November 2017

Disarming Hezbollah out of question: Iran

Disarming Hezbollah out of question: Iran

ANKARA: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards are ready to help rebuild Syria and bring about a lasting “cease-fire” there, chief commander Mohammad Ali Jafari said, adding that disarming Lebanon’s Hezbollah is out of the question, state TV reported on Thursday.
Iranian state television quoted Jafari as saying: “Hezbollah must be armed to fight against the enemy of the Lebanese nation which is Israel. Naturally, they should have the best weapons to protect Lebanon’s security. This issue is non-negotiable.”
He said: “Iran only provides advisory and spiritual assistance to Yemen ... and this help will continue.”
Jafari also praised the success of Iranian allies across the region, hailing a “resistance front” from Tehran to Beirut.
“We directly deal with global arrogance and Israel not with their emissaries...,” he said. The term global arrogance refers to the US.
“The guards are ready to play an active role in establishing a lasting cease-fire in Syria ... and reconstruction of the country,” Jafari said.
“In meetings with the (Iran) government, it was agreed that the Guards were in a better position to help Syria’s reconstruction ... the preliminary talks already have been held with the Syrian government over the issue,” Jafari said
Jafari repeated Iran’s stance on its disputed ballistic missile work, saying the Islamic Republic’s missile program is for defensive purposes and not up for negotiation.
The program was not part of the 2015 nuclear deal with Western powers under which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some sanctions.
“Iran will not negotiate its defensive program ... there will be no talks about it,” he said.
“(French president Emmanuel) Macron’s remarks over our missile work is because he is young and inexperienced.”
Macron said earlier this month that Tehran should be less aggressive in the region and should clarify the strategy around its ballistic missile program.