In August, two Democrats, Congressmen Nita Lowey and Howard Berman, announced they were holding up $100 million that had been approved for Lebanon’s army but not yet spent.
At the time, lawmakers said they were blocking US funding due to a deadly border clash between Lebanon and Israel.
During his two-day Lebanon visit, Iranian president received an honorary doctorate, slammed the Western “monopoly” on peaceful nuclear power, slammed the US for its military policies in the Middle East, and accused Washington of killing innocent civilians in Afghanistan under the “guise” of the War on Terror.
In response, Congressmen Berman and Lowey said they vigorously oppose the transfer of the funds, scheduled for next month, in light of the warm welcome with which Ahmadinejad was received in Lebanon.
Despite warnings from the US government, Lebanon and Iran signed 16 agreements and memoranda of understanding during Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s first day in Lebanon.
The agreements, however, did not include military aid to Lebanon, as was previously expected. Last August, Iran said it would supply Lebanon with military equipment, after the US Congress froze its aid to Lebanese Armed Forces on concerns over Hezbollah’s influence in the army.
The White House said that Ahmadinejad’s visit to Lebanon showed he was continuing his “provocative ways” while leading his country to economic distress and international sanctions.
During his visit, Ahmadinejad presented Lebanon an Iranian-made technical device called “Nanoscope” that designed to develop scientific and technical programs.
The White House also said that during Ahmadinejad’s two-day visit to Lebanon, they were concerned with his support for Hezbollah which they said undermined Lebanese sovereignty.
“He continues his provocative ways, even as he leaves his county in further economic stress and turmoil as a result of his actions that have led to international sanctions that are having a great impact,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
Gibbs was referring to UN sanctions placed on Iran over its alleged refusal to come clean about its nuclear activities suspected by the West as intended to develop a bomb. Tehran says the program is purely for peaceful purposes. “We reject any efforts to destabilize or inflame tensions within Lebanon,” US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said. “We would hope that no visitor would do anything or say anything that would give cause to greater tension or instability in that country.”
Meanwhile, Ahmadinejad accused Washington for its military policies in the Middle East, which he said killed innocent civilians in Afghanistan under the pretext of the War on Terror.
“Investing hope in Britain, the US and other Western countries to resolve problems in the region is useless since they happen to be among those that founded the Zionist regime… and definitely cannot play the role of a mediator,” Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying.
