Sayyed Nasrallah’s Full Speech Tackling Latest Developments on June 25th, 2021
Translated by Staff
Full speech of Hezbollah’s Secretary-General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah tackling latest local developments on June 25th, 2021
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan. In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and prayers and peace be upon our Master and Prophet, the Seal of Prophets, Abi al-Qassem Muhammad Bin Abdullah and his good and pure household and his good and chosen companions and all the prophets and messengers.
Peace and Allah's mercy and blessings be upon you all.
Today’s talk is devoted to local issues and developments. At the beginning, I will talk about some quick points:
- The Americans and the media
- The Americans and the Lebanese army
- The government file that will be the bulk of the speech
- Oil derivatives and the living situation
- The protests
- Thanking Iraq (this is related to the local and regional issue)
But before I begin, it is my duty to offer my condolences for the tragedy that befell our family, our dear ones, our loved ones, the whole family of dear brother Imad Hawili. His wife and four daughters all passed away in one accident. I extend my condolences to this dear brother, and I ask God Almighty to give him patience and solace and to give his family and all the fathers, mothers, and relatives who love these dear ones who have passed away.
I also offer my condolences to the family of the late Mr. Hussein Zain, may God have mercy on all of them, and I pass on what God Almighty has commanded us – to be patient and to praise God Almighty, because remembering Him best helps us to be patient as well as endure and overcome this ordeal during all the difficult circumstances.
God Almighty gave good tidings to those who are patient. The Almighty says: {but give good tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return."}
I advise these dear people to repeat in their hearts and minds: {Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.} By understanding and being aware of the meaning of this phrase, all misfortunes will ease. And God Almighty has promised those who say it out of faith and knowledge as the rest of the verse say: {Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided.}
God Almighty will bless them and bestow on them His mercy. He will inspire them with patience, solace, wisdom, endurance, and the ability to overcome this tragedy and this calamity. He will also guide them to their good in this world and in the hereafter. This is a divine commandment for all those who are afflicted with loved ones and dear ones. In these days, weeks, and months, we’ve lost many loved ones and dear ones. We are also facing many trials, adversities, and calamities in our lives. They require us to turn to God Almighty so that we can pass these difficult exams and come out of them with heads held high.
I delve into the talking points, some of which I will briefly talk about to save time for most of what I want to talk about.
1- The Americans and the media
We must talk about the US administration's latest move in confiscation and control – that is deleting and blocking dozens of websites belonging to dozens of media outlets in regional states. It is not a coincidence that all of these websites belong to parties and media outlets that had a great role and showed high solidarity with the Palestinians in the recent Al-Quds Sword battle. These sites has a position against the Zionist project and the Zionist entity as well as the American hegemony over the region. It has a position against sedition and terrorism, Takfiri terrorism in particular. And what is interesting is that some of these media outlets are purely religious and do not interfere in political affairs. Still, they were included in this list.
In any case, this matter again reveals and provides additional evidence for our people and the world about the false claims of successive American administrations that claim to defend freedom, freedom of expression, freedom of opinion, freedom of belief, etc. These are all lies, misrepresentations, and false allegations. The successive US administrations present new evidence of the falsehood of these allegations on a daily basis. At the same time, we find that media outlets affiliated with dictatorial and terrorist regimes as well as terrorist groups are, at the very least, untouched. Rather, they are supported and sponsored by the US administration.
In any case, we must condemn this American aggression against media outlets that belong to the the axis of resistance and adopts the culture of resistance in the battle of awareness and keeping space open for deception, misinformation, forgery, and distortion, and blocking it in the face of every word that wants to reveal the truth for the public opinion and the people of the nation.
2- The Americans and the Lebanese Army
In the past few days and weeks, we have read several American statements – that were said in the US during official sessions or the reported by US media outlets – attempting to justify to the American public opinion, the Congress, or certain parties the reason for their logistical support for the Lebanese army. They would say: “We are supporting the Lebanese Army because it is the only party that is able to confront Hezbollah.” Sometimes they’d say: “to confront Hezbollah.” Yesterday, a senior commander in the US army said: "It is Hezbollah that stands in the way of strengthening the Lebanese Army."
It is clear that we are facing a public American incitement, not in closed sessions but in the media – inciting the Lebanese against each other because this army is a Lebanese army and the resistance is a Lebanese resistance and Hezbollah is a Lebanese party. The Lebanese are being pitted against each other. These are US policies that aim to spread sedition and chaos in our country.
Today, I would like to comment with the following: The real goal of this incitement is not only to incite the Lebanese army, but rather to incite the resistance, Hezbollah, and the supporters of the resistance by raising suspicion, doubt, and fears toward strengthening the Lebanese army.
I would like to respond to this issue with several points:
1- basically, in all our speeches and positions, our announced and unannounced positions, my brothers and I always call for the strengthening of the Lebanese army. We always demanded that it have a real and powerful air force, missile capabilities, and a real air defense and that the Lebanese army be able to defend Lebanon, its sovereignty, territory, water, people, and dignity in the face of “Israeli” threats and aggression.
This has always been our habit and position. Even in our practical behavior, we sought some friendly countries, such as the Islamic Republic of Iran, to extend a helping hand and provide arms and ammunition to the Lebanese Army. A visit was arranged for the defense minister at the time, but the Lebanese political decision prevented that from happening due to calculations related to the Americans. Therefore, we are with the strengthening of the army. This does not worry us and does not raise any doubts or suspicions, even if the one who is strengthening the army is the United States of America.
2- That is why today I also want to call for the support of the army, local support for the army. We see other Lebanese security agencies and institutions that are making great efforts alongside the institution of the Lebanese Army. But the fact is that the Lebanese Army is the real guarantee for security and stability in Lebanon as well as its unity because there are worrying threats towards Lebanon or towards the region, with regard to the geographical unity of this country or that country. This is how we look at the institution of the Lebanese Army.
3- The Lebanese army is always in our culture. It is an essential part of the golden equation that gives Lebanon its strength when we talk about the army, the people, and the resistance, doesn’t it? Any incitement of this kind does not worry us for several reasons, including:
- The leadership, officers, sergeants, and soldiers in the Lebanese Army are the sons of the people. The resistance fighters in Lebanon are also the sons of the people. We belong to the same people, to the same families. No one expects this kind of national institution to fall for such incitement. There is also the national doctrine of the Lebanese army. The Lebanese army is a military institution in Lebanon that is affiliated with the political authority. It is not an independent authority that can operate independently of the political establishment, where the Lebanese are part of the decision-making process.
In any case, the Americans say that Hezbollah is the one obstructing [the strengthening of the Lebanese Army]. They must explain this matter, how is it obstructing? The US administration is the one obstructing the strengthening of the Lebanese Army at all levels. The Americans provide the army with some assistance but prevent it from receiving real assistance from the countries of the region and the world because the US administration is afraid of this army. This army possesses a national doctrine, the doctrine of the Lebanese people that reject aggression, threat, and humiliation. The US is afraid that if this army was armed with real capabilities, it would be in a real and serious position in confronting its stepdaughter, lover, and ally in the region, "Israel".
The US administration is the one hindering, disrupting, and not allowing this army to become powerful by its vetoes, prohibitions, and procedures known to officials in Lebanon and to the Lebanese people. Hence, it cannot blame us. This is one form of deception practiced by the American administration on the Lebanese people.
Today this army, this national institution needs everyone's support. First and foremost, it needs the support of the authority. It needs everybody’s support and embrace so it can be a real guarantee to maintain security, stability, and the unity of Lebanon in the face of the difficult circumstances we are heading towards. We will talk about some of these shortly.
3- The government file
There are several points, some of which contain clarification, and some give answers. We will talk about our understanding and our answer to the invitation launched by our friend, the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, His Excellency Minister Gibran Bassil, last Sunday. I would also like to comment on all the government file as much as time permits, and if there is a lot of talk, I will postpone it to another time.
1- Some in Lebanon, including politicians through their political statements and media professionals through what they write in articles, and what the media circulate, of course, blame others for obstructing [the formation of the government]. There is a clear obstruction. When more than eight months pass and no government is formed, that means somewhere there is an obstruction in forming a government. Of course, in a country where some people lack fairness and others take advantage of every event to tarnish the image of their opponents or to settle political scores, the door will be open to rambling.
I would like to respond to the matter that concerns us specifically in this point. Still, some people insist in their writing, declare it, and blame Iran and Hezbollah for not forming a government. Some say that Iran asked Hezbollah not to allow the formation of a government in Lebanon pending the Vienna nuclear negotiations. I mentioned this earlier, but it is necessary to repeat for the sake of public opinion.
There are real people who do not understand and are not ready to hear at all. I will tell them and I will comment on Vienna or the wait for the Saudi-Iranian talks, some of which took place in Baghdad some time ago. Therefore, Hezbollah will prevent the formation of a government in Lebanon until the Vienna talks as well as the Iranian-Saudi talks conclude.
I will just make a scientific and a reasonable comment; for the information of those people talking about fantasies and illusions. There is only a talk about the nuclear deal in Vienna and nothing else.
2- Iran is refusing and will continue to refuse to discuss other files. Basically, it is America’s friends that are trying to link the Lebanese file and other files related to the region with the negotiations with Iran.
It is Iran that refuses and does not accept to negotiate regarding ballistic missiles or the regional files; it only insists that negotiations and talks be limited to the nuclear agreement. No one is even mentioning Lebanon or care for it. Lebanon does not bring anything to the ongoing nuclear negotiations in Vienna.
Also, regarding the Saudi-Iranian talks, there have been several meetings. You can ask the Saudis if they’ll tell you. Our Iranian friends tell us everything because Wali al-Faqih considers us as masters.
In all the Saudi-Iranian talks, Lebanon was not discussed. The Iranians don’t even want to discuss Lebanon. To be fair, the Saudis did not address Lebanon. The focus of these talks was on bilateral relations.
Yes, the Saudis raised the Yemen file because their real problem now and priority is to address the predicament they got themselves in through their aggression against Yemen. As for Lebanon, no one talked about it or mentioned it. It will not bring anything to the so-called Saudi-Iranian talks or Saudi-Iranian understandings and agreements.
I said earlier, and I would like to confirm that the Islamic Republic of Iran never negotiates on behalf of anyone, not on behalf of the Lebanese people in Lebanon, nor on behalf of the Syrians in Syria, nor on behalf of the Palestinians in Palestine, nor on behalf of the Yemenis in Yemen, nor on behalf of the Iraqis in Iraq, nor on behalf of the Bahrainis in Bahrain, nor on behalf of the Afghanis in Afghanistan. It does not negotiate on behalf of anyone. Yes, it is ready to help if a friend asks. We will talk about this when we discuss the Lebanese affairs. So, I hope that this is clear to those who always try to blame us.
On the contrary, we have always rejected any government vacuum in the country. Just as a reminder, when the demonstrations took place on October 17, 2019, and the government was shaken, I frankly said, we reject toppling the President as the protesters were demanding. We reject early elections, and we reject the resignation of the government. We were with the government remaining – the government of Prime Minister Saad Hariri at the time. But Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned a few days later. After his resignation, we sought a lot to agree on a prime minister, but we did not reach a result. Prime Minster Hassan Diab was appointed. We sought to form a government with everyone, and for everyone to bear the responsibility, but to no avail. To avoid a vacuum, we accepted a government of one color or semi-one color, and we always rejected that to escape the vacuum.
After the port explosion on August 4 and the circumstances surrounding the government of Prime Minister Hassan Diab, everyone knows that we rejected the resignation of that government. After its resignation, we constantly called for the formation of a government as soon as possible. Always accusing us that we do not want [a government]or are obstructing [its formation], or that our interest is not to have a government in Lebanon is slander. It’s injustice, misleading, and an aggression in every sense of the word by those who write, say, and accuse. They know that they are liars and unjust and are falsely accusing us.
In fact, these people do not care about the pain of the Lebanese nor their suffering and all the humiliation they are being subjected to on the streets. Rather, they work as tools and clerks for outside forces and receive money in exchange for issuing these accusations. At best, they are malevolent people immersed in their personal whims and partisan accounts. Hence, they accuse us and others left, right, and center unjustly and without evidence.
We are not waiting for outside help, and the Lebanese cannot and should not wait for outside help. All efforts at home must be united to form a government and to get the country out of this impasse.
The second point is also in this context. I would like to clarify something that is causing confusion not only due to social media, but also through what political positions raise. Since Prime Minister Saad Hariri was appointed to form a government that has not yet been formed, we have been keen to form it as soon as possible, and we have been helping as much as we can. I personally was the first to clearly ask for the assistance of a friend, and I named this friend. I named Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri because of his position, traits, and qualities. He had started anyway. He was not waiting an invitation from me or anyone else, but my invitation is certainly an encouraging one, especially since Hezbollah promised that we will be supportive and helpful in this effort and in this initiative.
Indeed, this effort and this initiative undertaken by His Excellency Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, which we are grateful for, has led us to reach, with the various parties, an important point that can be built upon – an agreement that the number of ministers in the cabinet is 24. It was previously suggested to be 14 and 18, while the prime minister-designate was insisting on 18.
In any case, it was agreed on a 24-member cabinet. It was also agreed to distribute the portfolios as numbers to the parties and sects because this is the composition of the country. We can even say that some discussions regarding the distribution of portfolios are in their final stages.
In general, this stage was accomplished during the past few weeks thanks to the efforts made by the Amal Movement, Hezbollah, the Free Patriotic Movement, and the joint meetings that took place before the recent political and media wrangling.
What I would like to address is that in media and political circles it has been said that a Troika-style government [government based on three eights] has been agreed on. The three eights caused confusion, even though we did not use such literature. It led to confusion among some of our friends or some political analysts and observers in Lebanon that the government is a Troika.
Of course, when you say something like that, a sense of danger begins – we are heading to a new custom and are changing the system, the existing political or constitutional norms. Consequently, illusions and wrong political positions are generated, which I would like to touch on. Basically, the expression three eights is incorrect. The 24-member government is based on the distribution that was agreed upon except for the two Christian ministers who remained pending. There are no three eights. This division is incorrect. How do we calculate, for example? When it is said Troika, it is meant Sunnis Christians, and Shiites. This is what they mean, of course. I will comment on it and mention our position.
When we say eight for the Shiites, how is that and they’re five ministers? The eight includes two ministers of the Marada Movement and one minister of the [Syrian Social] Nationalist Party. Those three Christian ministers are counted with the Shiites, and everyone knows that. This applies to the rest as well. In the government, each party should vote according to its conviction. There are no fronts, no coalitions, no eights, nines, or tens, nothing.
In the governments of Prime Minister Hassan Diab and Prime Minister Saad Hariri, as well as in the previous governments [in Lebanon] and all over the world, people sit at the table in the Parliament. You find that even the ally of the ally votes differently because they vote according to their convictions regarding Lebanese issues and affairs. Therefore, it is incorrect for you to say that a third belongs to the Shiites and a third for the Sunnis, on what basis?!
If we assume that there are five Sunni ministers along with the prime minister, who would you include for them to become eight? The minister affiliated with the Progressive Socialist Party?! Does the Future Movement decide for the Progressive Socialist Party with? Under such circumstances? Everyone knows it isn't. In addition, the two Christian ministers who have not yet been resolved for us to say that these eight are the share of the honorable Sunni community.
Even if we take the eight – and the suspicion may have come from here – and say this is the share of the president and the FPM [Free Patriotic Movement], everyone knows that the Tashnag Party [or the Armenian Revolutionary Federation] does not vote like the FPM in many positions. When appointing Prime Minister Saad Hariri, the Tashnag’s position was not the same as that of the FPM. On many issues within the government, the Tashnag expresses its opinions, even though it is part of the bloc. Prince Talal is the same. Sometimes he votes for and sometimes he votes against, just like the rest of the political forces.
So, the origin of the “three eights” is a false analogy. There is no such thing as “three eights” in the 24-minister government for some to suspect that this is a form of Troika and being throwing accusations. Usually, the Shiite group is accused that you want a Troika and are pushing towards it.
Here, I would like to remind of our position. This is our position, the Amal Movement’s, the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council’s, and the position of all the parties in the honorable Lebanese Shiite community. We never talked about a Troika or thought about it. We never called for a Troika, not now, not in the past, and not in the future. Others talked about a Troika, assumed there was, and proposed it. Yes, it was suggested to us, but we did not agree or accept it. You remember, this is a topic we talked about a lot. Therefore, I hope this story ends so that fear is not generated, for fear generates illusions, and illusions lead to wrong political positions. Lebanon is a country in a crisis, and we do not need more wrong political positions, more errors in assessing the situation, more sensitivities, and more hostilities. Let this be very clear.
3- I move to the third point – the invitation His Excellency Minister Gebran Bassil issued last Sunday after he presented the developments and the situation. He said, ‘I want to seek the assistance of a friend’ and named me personally, and I thank him for this trust and love.
Before I state my understanding of what His Excellency the minister proposed and my response to this proposition, I want to talk a little about some of the forces and figures’ reactions, especially in some Christian circles – I am saying some to be on the safe side – because this will help me a little bit to understand what Minister Basil proposed.
We heard quick reactions; meaning right after he finished his speech, people, including party leaders, MPs, former ministers, and media professionals, appeared on television, and social media sites rumbled. We heard a lot of political rhetoric, insults, as well as a lot of hateful sectarian language and some racist language – how can Minister Basil say such a thing to so-and-so? You have to take political, religious, and sectarian dimensions into consideration. They attacked the man.
Let me take advantage of this incident to highlight a problem that exists in Lebanon, and I feel it very clearly. For example, when I or someone else delivers a speech, they respond to me the very next day. From the responses of these people, I’m sure they did not hear me or read [the speech]. Perhaps they do not have time to listen to the speech. This is their natural right. But if I wanted to be on the safe side, I’ll say that the one who is providing them with the summary of the speech is not giving them sum-ups that have the same meaning. You are speaking about something, and you find some people attacking you and responding to you about something else. The important thing is for them to attack you, respond to you, and put words in your mouth – words that did not even occur to you. Now, I’ll state my assessment about these people in the same manner as my assessment a while ago. When we come to the words they mentioned, the man [Basil] did not say them in the first place. How can Minister Basil authorize Sayyed Hassan the rights of Christians? In all his talk, the man did not authorize. I heard him and then the text of his speech to be sure and know what to answer and comment. He didn't even use the word authorization. They attacked the ma, regardless of who is being authorized. The main problem here is how can he authorize a certain person. He did not use the term “authorize,” and there was no authorization in what he asked – this is important for what I'm going to answer.
Second, he is not handing one’s fate in his request. On the contrary, he was clear and said: I am not handing my fate or that of those I represent. There is neither authorization nor handing one’s fate. The confusion came from the word "judge", which I will return to shortly. So, there's no authorization, no handing one’s fate, nothing.
There is just an ally seeking the help of another ally, a friend seeking the help of a friend. He is not authorizing or handing his fate. He is not asking them to decide what they want. So, why is this campaign against him?
I do not want to respond to the sectarian and racist language that was used, the harsh language. I will stop here and say that these people do not listen or read. If they heard or read, they do not understand. If they understood, they will deny and not accept the truth, why? Because hatred, grudges, racism, and sectarianism blind minds and hearts, not just eyesight. This is blindness. This is the first comment.
I will state my understanding of what Minister Basil, head of the Free Patriotic Movement, asked. It is normal when it comes to political matters and even family matters, economic matters, social matters. A person prepares to take an exam. When he finds a question he cannot answer, it is only natural for him to seek the assistance of a friend, and he preceded us in seeking the assistance of a friend. So, this is normal.
I also say, in my answer, that we accept this invitation and we have begun working on it. Yes, we are an ally and a friend, and we want to accept this invitation and to extend a helping hand and to defend the rights of every Lebanese. This is one of our duties as well, and I will explain how and what the framework is so that no one misunderstands.
Of course, it did not occur to me, not for a moment, that Minister Basil, when he issue this invitation, that he wanted to cause a rift between Hezbollah and the Amal movement. He knows the nature of the relationship between Hezbollah and the Amal movement, and we’ve discussed this matter for a long time – him and I – in internal meetings. And I know that Minister Basil is too smart to take such a step.
The man is looking at a difficult and great political crisis in Lebanon, and he is doing what we did and as any normal person in the country would, which is ask the help of a friend. I do not want to revisit past files. I tell those insolents and political takfiris who accused the man and the FPM in the past few days: I do not want to relive the past and ask you what friend or enemy did you ask assistance from? I’ll leave this for another time. God willing, we never need to open such files.
Yes, we will accept this invitation, and we have begun working on this invitation, and I will say in what framework. But there are certainly two points that were mentioned in Minister Basil's speech that I would like to comment on to determine the content that we will promise and commit to.
The word “judge” in “We accept you as a judge.” Of course, I can't play the role of a judge. With regard to what is being proposed, it does not mean to be a judge. It is, in any case, a statement that expresses more trust. But its exact meaning is not intended here. When I tell someone or a certain party that you are a judge, it means handing him my fate and abiding by his decision, whatever it is. But the man did not say that, rather he was clear when said, “it does not mean that I am handing my fate and that of those I represent.” Secondly, judging requires the acceptance and authorization of the two sides. However, this matter does not exist and is not on the table. Thirdly, I do not want to play the role of a judge in such issues. In any case, this phrase may have generated confusion among some people.
Let me talk about another point that was mentioned in the speech that may also have generated confusion and I consider it a moral statement. When someone asks others for help, this person says I accept what you accept. Of course, I do not advise anyone to deal with us on the basis of “I accept what you accept for yourselves.” This is because Hezbollah's circumstances, priorities, and position are different. Therefore, Hezbollah has certain policies and behave in a certain manner when it comes to its priorities, including the elections, representation in the government, the type of representation, the size of representation, administration, matters related to the government in general. Therefore, it accepts to be in this position.
Hezbollah possesses political and popular power, as well as non-political power inside Lebanon and through its presence and regional influence. I do not think that there is an equally large political force in Lebanon that would accept what Hezbollah accepts unless it has its own circumstances and priorities and is loyal to these priorities.
That is why we do not want to deal with the issue on this basis because, as I said, Hezbollah’s position, circumstances, and priorities are different, and it accepts for itself what most political forces do not accept for themselves. So, we also put this aside.
We end by saying that the subject is in fact helping a friend. God willing, we have begun efforts. In any case, the recent controversy has affected the existing initiatives. Our brothers met with Minister Basil. We listened and discussed new ideas to address the remaining outstanding points. There are points that have been addressed. There are outstanding points. We will continue this discussion with His Excellency Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri or through his delegates. He will also discuss with the prime minister-designate. As we worked together, we will continue together. Minister Gibran asked for my assistance as a friend, and I had asked the assistance of Parliament Speaker Berri as a friend. We are friends regardless of what is between friends and allies. This is the only natural, logical framework available that can lead to a conclusion. All of these efforts aim to take us to a place that is satisfactory to His Excellency President Michel Aoun and to Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri so that if they reach an understanding and consensus, the government could be formed.
We can also offer new ideas to address the remaining sticking points. But the effect of this appeal or this speech is in fact to make more efforts. And here I clearly say that yes, time is short. It is true that we do not want to set a time frame for people not to despair. We must always have hope, and we have always said that the natural way out of the crisis and addressing the problems the Lebanese people are suffering from in all the areas today is to find a government capable of making decisions even if they are difficult or unpopular. In any case, we will do our best. I repeat and say that what we are seeing on the street and at petrol stations as well as the issues of electricity, medicine, foodstuff, and subsidies – easing subsidies or lifting subsidies – must be, first and foremost, a moral, humanitarian, and psychological incentive and pressure on all the people involved in government formation to form a government.
This is the final point in the government file. This point was included in the reproach from some of our friends, in particular in the Free Patriotic Movement. I would like to comment on it because there are also some other friends who may have this suspicion. Although I do not like to discuss this topic in the media, it was raised a lot in the media and from a position of friendship, understanding, and reasonable and purposeful dialog.
It is regarding neutrality. You, Hezbollah, are neutral in this governmental crisis. If I want to say it’s incorrect, it is incorrect. But I want to use a slightly appropriate phrase and I it’s inaccurate. But it is incorrect. If our friends in the FPM and all the people in the country remember. There was a difficult internal atmosphere and external pressure, including French and others, on His Excellency the President during the formation of the government of Prime Minister-designate Mustafa Adeeb. The President was being pressured to sign on the list that Mr. Mustafa will write, otherwise you are disrupting the government. Do you remember what our position was?
Perhaps I was one of the few – in a speech for an hour and a half – who responded to President Macron’s speech when he held all the people at the time responsible. Among the points that I mentioned is that what was happening would have taken away from the President the most important power given to him by the Taif Agreement and the current constitution, which is the power to take part in the formation of the Lebanese government. We did not talk about this in the past. We spoke with the French and others, but I said this clearly in response to the speech of the French President because this is a right, and we must stand by him. Even when Prime Minister Saad Hariri was appointed, we, publicly and implicitly, always said the President of the Republic is a partner in forming the government. We do not accept him to be turned into a chief clerk. Wasn't this our position? Is this being neutral?
This is linked to the government crisis, with the injustice of the government crisis. We stood by it and did not care. On the other hand, when the majority in Parliament – not the majority they are talking about now, but Hezbollah, Amal Movement, the FPM, and their allies; whether it really exists in shape or form needs more discussion. I don't have much time to talk about it. Otherwise, the political scene, the alliances, and the composition of the political forces in the country. I had written about it earlier, but I will postpone it because there is no time – when the majority of MPs or the parliamentary blocs named Prime Minister Saad Hariri, we nor the FPM named him. Still, we considered him the prime minister-designate. Of course, we implicitly accepted his nomination, but we did not name him for the post of prime minister-designate. Let us form a government. Here, too, we advocated with rights. In other places, we didn’t. We stood with His Excellency the President.
I will give two examples. The first example is the issue of the blocking one-third. It was said that the President and the FPM were demanding a blocking one-third even though Minister Gibran denied this issue more than once. In a speech I delivered, I said we understand that the prime minister-designate, other participating parties, parties that will take part in the government, or one side might have a blocking one-third or a one-third guarantor.
Here, we are talking about rights because when one leader or any one party in the government has a blocking one-third, this means that the participation of the others has become almost a formality. This was a right, and we advocated it. But when it was suggested in the government formation that the president and the FPM would be given four ministers, we were against that. The prime minister-designate knows, and I sent him that if the FPM accepts this, we Hezbollah, do not accept and reject it. This was unfair to the president and the FPM.
So, when you talk about neutrality, we are not neutral. When the position is right, we take the position on the side of the right. Yes, we may disagree with a friend or an ally whether a position is right or not. But this does not mean we are saying that so-and-so is wrong, and we are right. Here, it is related to understanding and interpretations. We do not fail rights and never do. When it comes to falsehood, we do not stand neutral. In the governmental crisis, we stand where the right is, did so in the past, and will certainly do so in the future. We are keen on the rights of everyone as we defend our natural rights. I also liked to comment on this point with love.
4- Oil Derivatives and living condition
I come to the last point or the point before the last which is regarding the living crisis, the current situation, gasoline, diesel, medicine, and people's concerns. Of course, something happened yesterday that makes what I’m about to say easier. Communications between His Excellency the President, the Prime Minister, the concerned ministers, the Central Bank, etc. took place. What we heard today in the media and from what the brothers told me that an agreement to issue an exceptional decision by His Excellency the President and the Prime Minister of the caretaker government was signed to allow the Central Bank to issue credits or approve credits that secure oil derivatives for the coming three months. Of course, if these approvals are issued and the companies are able to bring oil derivatives, this is a way to address the problem, provided this matter be pursued with the required seriousness. However, today I want to confirm a promise I made a few days ago. I also want to say what I did regarding that promise.
I promised, and I’m sticking to it when I said that if a time comes when the state is unable to import oil derivatives, especially gasoline and diesel, we will have to bring gasoline and diesel from Iran off the Lebanese shores – not necessarily Beirut port. We will use whatever valid or possible means to transfer gasoline and diesel to Lebanon, even if this issue creates a problem for us with the state, even though other states are our friends.
Regarding this point, I actually like to say that we took advantage of time and made efforts with state officials. We did not leave the issue. We contacted state officials as well as the rest of the forces concerned so that this issue be addressed by the state because it is responsible for addressing it. We decided to take advantage of time. Therefore, we accomplished all the administrative and logistical prerequisites for the success of a step of this kind – bringing gasoline and diesel from Iran to Lebanon and distributing it to the citizens – in the past few days.
This means that if we really reached the point I talked about, which is the inability of the Lebanese state or the Lebanese state's abandonment of bringing oil derivatives, we only need permission to move, only to move to bring these materials to Lebanon. we have accomplished all the administrative and logistical matters – the how, where, and who. The only thing left to do is implement. This promise still stands.
But I would like to comment on something that was raised when I spoke about this promise, so you can see the absurdity that exists in Lebanon. Some said and others wrote that Sayyed is promising to bring us gasoline and diesel from Iran. Is there gasoline and diesel in Iran? Iran has a gasoline and diesel crisis.
Of course, our problem in Lebanon is that there are people who think they know everything and understand politics, strategy and tactics, military, security, economy, finance, health, medicine, geology, and astronomy. They think they know everything.
In any I would like to make a simple comment. These people are ignorant. Every person who spoke about this subject is ignorant, with all due respect to them. They are ignorant and know nothing. Basically, the whole world was abuzz with the Iranian ships heading to Venezuela. What were they carrying to Venezuela, you ignorant people? It was carrying gasoline, diesel, and oil derivatives. It was carrying tools for fixing the Venezuelan oil refineries because the Americans were besieging them and preventing them from obtaining the tools and technology that would help them operate the oil refineries. They had oil, but in order to refine their oil and get oil derivatives out of it, they needed the tools.
Secondly, there are those who said that Sayyed will bring sanctions against Lebanon. I have two things to discuss here. The first is when we bring gasoline and diesel in this way, this means it is not through the Central Bank or through the Ministry of Energy, and the Lebanese state can tell the Americans that we accepted it against our will. Should we initiate a civil war to stop them? On the contrary, this will not bring on sanctions.
The second is that our friends will bring sanctions on us. We previously spoke that we, the Lebanese should be against our rivalries and enmities. Don’t we all agree that preserving Lebanon’s safety, strength, well-being, and prosperity is our goal. I’ve always said that we must all benefit from our friendships for the benefit of Lebanon. We have friendships with Syria, Iran, and the Iraqi brothers. Let us make use of these friendships for the benefit of Lebanon and the interest of the Lebanese people. We do not have many friendships around the world. You, on the other hand, have friendships with America, France, Europe, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf states. So, make use of your friendships for the benefit of the Lebanese people, the way we do with our friendships. Form a delegation so the county is not sanctioned, and I will pray you to succeed.
Form a delegation and go to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries. Ask them for petrol, diesel, and fuel, and in Lebanese pounds and not for free. Let them give you, and we will be the first supporters to bless this move. This will not bring sanctions on you. These are the friends of America, and America will not impose sanctions. Why do you just stand and watch the humiliation of people at the [petrol] stations in the morning and evening and the problems that began to grow there, including the shootings and the bloody accidents? Your only job is to criticize, attack, and settle scores? Do something. We are trying to do something, even if it was a burden. My brothers and I were sitting together one day and we said that we even ended up buying gasoline and diesel? We never expected this day would come. But we are ready to work in the line of importing gasoline, diesel, and fuel, and even work as garbage collectors for our society and our people in order for them to be people of dignity and honor. These people gave blood and made sacrifices.
But you sit in your ivory towers, theorizing, insulting, accusing people of disloyalty, and not lifting a finger. They do not even feel the people’s hunger, suffering, and pain, nothing. I want to ask you a question. The Americans said that in the past few years they gave Lebanon $10 billion. Surely, they did not give the money to Hezbollah or to our allies. They gave the money to you and to the civil society associations. Can anyone of you tell us and tell the Lebanese people where the $10 billion are? For example, more than one source reported that Prince Mohammed bin Salman said that from 2005 to 2017, we spent $20 billion in Lebanon! Can anyone tell us where the $20 billion is? O brother, reveal it to us. You took billions of dollars, show us what you did with them – institutions, hospitals, schools, universities, the infrastructure. Show us what you did with the billions.
I’m not saying this just for us to be scoring points off each other and not being helpful. You go upset. We seriously pursued this matter and prepared the introductions to bring gasoline and diesel to Lebanon. Put your trust in God, you and your friends, and go ahead. This is not about scoring points. I will pray for you to succeed. Go to Saudi Arabia, to the Gulf states, and to the Americans and bring diesel, gasoline, and fuel for electricity. If you can also bring foodstuff to break the monopoly and the prices in the country, then go ahead. But this negativity, sitting in ivory towers, cursing, insulting, accusing people of treason, and philosophizing is no longer acceptable. In fact, the Lebanese people must evaluate the nature of this phenomenon and situation. There are people trying to help, while others block roads and do not allow others to help. This is not allowed. Well, what is allowed?
Go ahead and do what is allowed for the country, and I am with you. In this context, why will we keep importing and be dependent when it comes to gasoline and diesel in this way – [foreign] companies, monopoly, and a thousand problems on top of it.
During the past period, I spoke with some specialists and they told me that a small refinery could be established in the Zahrani area within six months and another one in Tripoli within 6 months. There are foreign companies from the East ready to do so. The state will not have to pay a dime, a dollar, or a lira to build and operate these refineries within 6 months. Then, these companies will bring crude oil, refine it in Lebanon, and extract oil derivatives from it at the lowest cost. This will be easier for us as a country. Six months pass in a blink of an eye. Why doesn't the state resort to this option?
Even the caretaker government can resort to such an option. If it resorts to this option, no one should stand in its way, object, or accuse it. I invite the government to do so. This helps a lot so that we do not remain stuck in this crisis. This is one form of solution. Hence, when we import oil from Iraq – I will leave this until the end when I thank and show gratitude to Iraq – instead of the Lebanese state being confused regarding which country or company it will take the Iraqi crude oil to and instead of listening to accusations left, right, and center and talks about brokers and deals under the table, we will have a small refinery in Zahrani and a small refinery in Tripoli in the north, through which they can secure a large portion of the Lebanese market’s needs. This is within reach. I am telling you there is a company ready to implement this project. It is only waiting for approval and signature. Go ahead. Why wait? This also helps with addressing [the crisis].
Regarding the suffering that we will be facing, in my last speech, I said something that I did not have to say, and I do not know if anyone else was obliged to say it or ready to say it. But let us be frank and aware about the fact of the situation in the country. We are going to fasten-your-seat-belts kind of situation. No one should be giving people false promises, with or without a decision, and whether this thing is intended or not. This requires discussion. The country is heading towards lifting subsidies automatically, naturally, and without a decision from the caretaker government or from the next government if it is formed. This is because the time will come when the Central Bank says that it no longer has money. It is now saying that it no longer has money.
And if we wanted to subsidize here or there or open a credit here, we need permission to dispose of the mandatory reserve. Day after day, we hear reports that subsidies have been lifted from this substance; there is no more sugar and yeast – this is the most important thing because it is used in making bread – and the remaining foodstuff. Apart from that, there is talk about what we should do with oil derivatives and discussions about medicine. Of course, with regard to medicine, we have to do our best. There are foodstuff that should remain subsidized, even if it is guided, calculated, and studied but not whatever. For example, regarding medicine for chronic and incurable diseases, etc., the details that are usually with the Ministry of Health. They follow up with the concerned authorities. The same goes to other foodstuffs, gasoline, bread, diesel, and so on.
But the country is heading toward a reality. We must all sit down and arrange our affairs on the basis that the caretaker government is put under pressure to rationalize subsidies. Our disagreement is not about rationalizing subsidies. Rationalizing subsidies carries a great responsibility. Why should some people bear the responsibility and not others? I said in a previous speech and I will repeat it – I understand Premiere Hassan Diab’s situation regarding this subject. He has one leg in and another out because if he wants to rationalize subsidies, the party concerned with rationalizing subsidies will be cursed by the people. If you want to rationalize subsidies, let us form a committee. There is no need for a dialog table. Everyone who took part in previous governments should take part in this committee. It is not permissible for someone else alone, other than those who participated in previous governments and bear responsibility for the situation we are in now, to shoulder the responsibility of making difficult decisions and bearing insults from people. No!
We are prepared to make this difficult decision on the basis that those who were partners in the previous governments should form a committee. We send representatives from our side, sit down, and discuss rationalization of subsidies. We, then, decide to rationalize subsidies or lift subsidies in the event that we are heading to a point where there is no money, aid, loans, etc.
This requires a bold and courageous decision from everyone. Everyone has to shoulder the responsibility. It is not right, for example, for someone to put the donkey on top of the minaret and another to bring it down, no! Those who put it up have to bring it down. Everyone has to bear the responsibility in this matter. Regardless of this discussion, we called for and supported the cash card. The joint committees endorsed it, and it is up to the General Assembly. We hope this matter will be addressed, God willing, in the General Assembly. In the event that the country automatically heads towards lifting subsidies or automatically heads towards rationalizing subsidies, even without a decision because, in practice, subsidies are lifted in some places, the ration card can help hundreds of thousands of Lebanese families to withstand this difficult stage. Our responsibility is to allow these families persevere and to alleviate their suffering. We must always look for ideas, even within the framework of rationalizing subsidies.
We have ideas, and there are experiences that exist in many countries that have suffered like Lebanon. we can resort to these experiences, and the Lebanese state can implement them. If someday a committee of this kind is formed or a serious discussion takes place within this framework, God willing, we will present these ideas.
As for the people, they should pay attention to how to deal with this stage that we are in the midst and heading towards. There is no doubt that it is a difficult stage, and we have talked a lot about its causes. Each one will try to blame the responsibility of this crisis on the other and settle scores. The country will be lost and the suffering will remain. What is required now is how we work to alleviate the suffering.
5- The protests
In the context of alleviating the suffering, I would like to tell the people, especially the good people, and I know that for some people this talk is unpopular, like my speech after the October 2019 demonstration.
In all honesty and frankly, shooting at each other at gas stations does not solve the problem. If someone has a goal of sabotaging Lebanon, destroying it, and dragging it into sedition and destruction, by doing so we are serving their goal. Sabotaging public facilities does not serve anyone and does not solve the crisis. Blocking roads only hurts people. You say you are suffering and in pain. But you are only hurting and increasing the pain of the people that you are blocking the road on. A few days ago, and maybe after my speech or while I’m delivering it, we might see two queues of humiliation. You are creating more queues. There are queues at the gas station or at the pharmacy, and there is a second queue – a queue of humiliation. You are creating a second queue of pain when you block roads. You are causing cars to stop for one kilometer or more. There are men, women, children, and patients sitting on the side of the road. What is the problem? There are young people angry at the status quo and blocked the road! Well, you went down and blocked the road. What will this do? You are blocking the road to defeat or to make some people act. But these people are not at all moved by blocking the roads. But by doing so, you are harming your people and your family, and you are starving the people. If the road blockages continues, the situation will become similar to the situation at the gas stations. This happened in the past few days. People started fist fighting each other and clashed. It may evolve into people carrying weapons against each other. Is this how matters are addressed?
There is a wide range of crises in the country. But we have one of the greatest blessings – security, stability, civil peace, and social security. Should we ruin our homes with our hands? Is this what’s required? If we destroy our homes with our bare hands, will we have gasoline, diesel, bread, medicine, and foodstuff? Will we solve the debt problem and create job opportunities?
We are ruining our homes by shoot at each other, blocking roads at each other, and insulting each other on social media for the smallest occasion. Today the Lebanese, especially those suffering need to join hands with each other, understand on another, bear each other, and be patient with each other. And if a person was angry with another, the other should bear it. People should bear each other. Today, we need to maintain security, stability, civil peace, and some internal psychological peace so that we can cooperate with each other, be able to ease each other’s pain, and address the country’s problem. Otherwise, there are people who want to take the country towards an explosion. What do they want? They are corrupters in every sense of the word. They serve the enemy, whether they know it or not. I am with every means that serves the purpose. If you want to express your anger, you can demonstrate, organize a sit in, go on hunger strike within the legal limits, strike, carry out civil disobedience, and refrain from paying taxes and fees, etc. All of these are legitimate means. But if you resort to a means that will cause harm to your people and your family and increase their suffering, aches, pains, and calamities, are these wise and reasonable means? Do they serve the purpose?
In this distress and ordeal, I seriously hope and call for more awareness and more patience. We need to bear more, to bear each other more, and to cooperate more. We need to round the corners more, so we can overcome this ordeal. Otherwise, the country will slip from all our hands – not from the hands of certain people or areas. And when the country is ruined, all of it is ruined. When we lose the country, all of us will lose. God willing, we will all be able to protect the country and bear the responsibility.
Let me give an example about ourselves. If we wanted to respond to everyone that attacked us, we would’ve done it a long time ago. From here, I appeal in particular to our brothers and sisters, especially to the supporters of the resistance and the supporters of Hezbollah specifically. We recently had good relations with Prime Minister Saad Hariri. We talk and communicate with each other. He does not speak ill of us. But for years, the vice president of the Future Movement, the Future Movement deputies, the Future Movement officials, and everyone belonging to the Future Movement, attacked Hezbollah day and night. But for months and years, we do not respond. Did anything happen to us? Let them say whatever they want. What will we do? Sparring only provokes the atmosphere and cause grudges. If they are determined to continue on this path, even though we insist on cooperation and integration and are accused of standing with him.
Let us take the Lebanese Forces, from their head to the bottom.
The forces attack us on every occasion, from the party leader, the ministers, party officials, deputies, former ministers, through social media, etc. But we do not respond to them and nothing happened to us. What I want to say is that if we have a point of view, let's show it. We do not want problems with anyone in the country. We do not want to enter into an argument with anyone in the country, even with the people who insult us and accuse us of treason. We live up to our responsibilities. The country is precious to everyone. But for those who offered martyrs, the country certainly becomes more precious. We are not the only ones who gave martyrs, others did too. The country is precious to all those who gave martyrs because they paid blood for the price of liberation, sovereignty, security, stability, civil peace, and dignity. And what was paid with blood must not be wasted. We don't want to waste it. We want to preserve it. We have to bear, and we do not want to argue. We should not raise hell at the slightest word said on social media and call for a committee to coordinate. I tell Hezbollah’s supporters, officials, sheikhs, scholars, and I am speaking to you from religious point of view and not partisan, any talk that leads to sedition in this circumstance is forbidden and is a major sin.
Today, preventing sedition and burying it is more important than anything else, and whoever imagines that amid incitement, sparring, and sedition, they can remedy an economic, living, or political crisis is delusional. They are ruining and destroying the country. The country is very precious to us. We must protect it with not only the lashes of our eyes, but also with our blood and the blood of our loved ones as we have done in the past decades.
6-Thanking Iraq
Let me say a few words to thank Iraq and the Iraqi government. Despite the difficult economic situation in Iraq, the Iraqi government made the decision to cooperate with Lebanon regarding the issue of one million tons of fuel. This issue needs follow-up, and thanks to the Iraqi government and the Iraqis for this fraternal and humanitarian decision. Also, thanks to the leadership of the Hezbollah Brigades in Iraq, which announced in the past few days that it will also be part of the regional equation to protect the holy city, Al-Quds, Bait Al-Maqdis, and the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque. This position needs to be thanked.
Thanks to the Iraqi government and the resistance in Iraq and thanks to all the friends of Lebanon. Thanks to everyone who really wants to help Lebanon, the Lebanese people, and the Lebanese state to withstand, survive, and overcome this stage, and to denounce and condemn all those who besiege Lebanon, imposed sanctions, and prevented anyone from aiding Lebanon, including the Great Satan, the United States of America, a friend of some that are starving and suffering in Lebanon.
Peace, mercy, and God’s blessings be upon you.
