The Iranian Gift: American Discontent At Its Peak As Fayyad Embarrasses Hochstein

Al-Akhbar Newspaper | Translated by Al-Ahed News

The Americans are continuing to play the game of procrastination when it comes to Lebanon’s imports of gas and electricity from Egypt and Jordan. They have also resumed threatening sanctions on Lebanon in the event Beirut accepts any gifts from Iran or inks an agreement with Tehran on fuel for power plants. The great irony is that the need for these agreements stems from the decades-long American blockade imposed on Lebanon which has exacerbated its crises, depriving the country of the ability to come up with solutions.

The blatant American interference in Lebanese affairs was evident at the meetings held by the US special envoy Amos Hochstein in Beirut on Sunday. His positions confirmed that his country will continue to interfere and try to impose itself as a decision-maker in Lebanon.

Hochstein's meeting with Walid Fayyad, Lebanon’s Energy Minister in the caretaker government, in the presence of the US ambassador in Beirut Dorothy Shea revealed clear American dissatisfaction with the Iranian gift that Hezbollah’s Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah made public a few days ago.

More intimate details gathered by the Al-Akhbar Newspaper reveal that Fayyad pointed out that "a long time has passed since the initiative to import gas and electricity from Egypt and Jordan, and there are no solutions. It is clear that the matter is related to what America says, whether with regard to the World Bank or the Treasury Department's decision."

He pointed out that "Lebanon can no longer bear this pressure, and there are offers to support Lebanon, including the Iranian gift, which will help increase the number of hours of electrical supply."

"I, as a minister, agree to the gift, and I cannot refuse it under any pretext," Fayyad added. 

Hochstein was quick to interrupt him, “The decision to accept the gift comes from the government and not from the Ministry of Energy,” the American envoy purportedly said. 

Below is the rest of the exchange between the Lebanese minister and Washington’s diplomats: 

Fayyad: “It is true, but the mechanisms for accepting the gift sometimes allow for special decisions. And you know that the Lebanese army, for example, accepts financial and in-kind donations without returning to the Council of Ministers and without the prior approval of the government.”

Shea intervenes bluntly and with a dose of her usual sarcasm: “Are you like the Lebanese army?”

Fayyad: “No, I am not like the army, but the matter has become pressing, and Lebanon is being offered an Iranian oil gift, and I cannot refuse it as long as it helps address part of the electricity problem. The conditions that we see have become severe, and we have heard repeated promises without results."

Hochstein: “[The matter] is related to negotiations with the World Bank, and I spoke with them and will talk with them again. I hope that we will reach a conclusion quickly.”

Hochstein goes on to acknowledge that the World Bank "is making the matter difficult."

He then reiterates his promise to "work with the World Bank to facilitate the task because the approval of contracts requires its approval."

Hochstein: "The World Bank's requests regarding tariffs and the regulatory body are actually aimed at reducing the risks of the requested loan. [...] The World Bank is not a commercial bank, and every shareholder in it knows that the risks of non-payment are always present. We hope to convince them to ease their requests and make it easier.”

Hochstein then shares his two cents on the Iranian gift: "We do not believe that Iran is serious about its offer to give fuel as a gift. In any case, I advise leaving the matter to the prime minister to take the appropriate decision."