Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — Hizbullah has asserted that its only means of financial
and military support stem from Iran.

Hizbullah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah said Iran marked the sole
supplier of the Shi’ite militia in Lebanon. Nasrallah said Hizbullah was not
engaged in illicit financial activity, including drug trafficking and
money-laundering.

“We have been receiving since 1982 all kinds of moral, political and
material backing from the Islamic republic of Iran,” Nasrallah said.

In a television address on Feb. 7, Nasrallah issued the first claim that Iran was the sole backer of Hizbullah. The Shi’ite militia chief did not explain why Hizbullah was announcing Iranian sponsorship.

“In the past we alluded partially to this truth,” Nasrallah said. “We
used to speak of a moral and political support while keeping silent when questioned about our military backing so as not to embarrass Iran. But today, we have decided to speak out.”

“We get spiritual, political and material assistance from Iran,”
Nasrallah said. “The resistance movement that won the Lebanon war [in 2006] could not have done so without Iran’s help, but they can’t dictate anything. If Israel attacks Iran because of its nuclear program, then Iran won’t ask anything from us, as we should think what to do.”

Western intelligence sources said Hizbullah, with an estimated 60,000
missiles and rockets, has become the largest recipient of Iranian aid,
estimated at close to $500 million a year. They said Hizbullah has augmented
the Iranian income through drug trafficking and money-laundering in Africa
and South America.

“Drug trafficking is banned in Islam,” Nasrallah said. “Besides, Iranian
support spares us the need for even a penny from anywhere in the world.”

Nasrallah also denied reports that Hizbullah was fighting in Syria to
save the regime of President Bashar Assad. Western and opposition sources
said Hizbullah has deployed up to 2,000 fighters for special operations.

“The reality in Syria today is that the regime is still in power and it
has an army and a constitution,” Nasrallah said. “There are many people who
support the regime.

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