US sanctions Lebanese officials accused of aiding Hezbollah

The United States has sanctioned nine individuals it says "enable Hezbollah to undermine Lebanon's sovereignty," including MPs, an Iranian diplomat, and Lebanese security officials. The State Department said Hezbollah's "refusal to disarm" prevents Lebanon from delivering peace and prosperity to its people, adding: "This is only the beginning." In an interview on Al Jazeera, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the sanctions send a "clear signal" that there will be "real consequences" for anyone aiding Hezbollah. He added that the US is focused on creating "good-faith space" for negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, with a fourth round of peace talks scheduled for June 2 and a 45-day ceasefire extension already agreed. Pigott accused Hezbollah of a "direct effort to derail those conversations, including threats within Lebanon and attacks against Israel." When asked about Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's statement that Hezbollah is "not in the Lebanese context" a terrorist organization, Pigott said Hezbollah has "again and again" driven Lebanese people into conflict. He also noted that among those sanctioned is the Iranian ambassador designate to Lebanon, who has been declared persona non grata by the Lebanese government but has refused to leave. Pigott said the US goal is "peace and prosperity for the people of Lebanon and Israel." Subscribe to our channel: bit.ly
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