Senior Hezbollah Official Describes Trump as ‘Racist’
BEIRUT (Tasnim) – Lebanese Hezbollah Resistance Movement’s second-in-command, Sheikh Naim Qassem, said the election of “racist” Donald Trump as the US president and nationwide demonstrations staged against him signal a “real crisis” in the country.
Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency in the Lebanese capital city, Sheikh Qassem pointed to the results of the recent presidential election in the US and said the demonstrations staged by Americans in protest at the election of Trump proves that the country is facing a “real crisis”.
The Lebanese cleric further described Trump as “racist” and said his plans for the US will cause trouble for many people in the country.
“However, in my opinion, the demonstrations will change equations in the US and the new president might withdraw from implementation of some of his decisions,” he added.
More than a week after Trump’s upset election, protesters continue to take to the streets across the US and elsewhere to condemn the billionaire’s racist and xenophobic rhetoric.
The demonstrators say protests will persist in the country unless Trump abandons his "war" on immigrants and other minorities.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Sheikh Qassem pointed to Iran’s military support for the Lebanese army and said Hezbollah will raise the issue after the formation of the new government in the Arab country, although the US has always pressured to stop Iran’s military assistance to the Lebanese army.
“We will raise all the proposals that had been submitted to the (former) Lebanese government again and discuss the issue with the new government,” the cleric said.
Back in October 2014, Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said the country has prepared a series of military items to be dispatched to Lebanon as a gift in order to help the Arab country in fighting against Takfiri terrorists.
Dehqan said that the weapons would be delivered to Lebanon at Beirut’s request.
Lebanon is an influential country in regional security and has a special position in Iran’s foreign policy agenda, the minister explained.
That is why the Islamic Republic is resolved to support the Lebanese nation and government and help equip that country’s army, he added.
Dehqan reiterated that Tehran is prepared to train the Lebanese armed forces and convey its experiences for the battle against Takfiri terrorists, including the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group.
The Lebanese defense minister, Samir Moqbel, said at the time that Iran’s gift for Lebanon’s army is “unconditional” but his country’s cabinet should handle the legal procedures for the arms delivery.