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It noted in a statement that “today’s actions are based on the latest counterterrorism classifications under Executive Order No. 13224 of former Lebanese officials, Yusef Fenianos and Ali Hassan Khalil, who established personal interests and those of Hezbollah. Iran’s support is in the interest of the Lebanese people, “considering that” Bassil, through his corrupt activities, undermined good governance and contributed to the prevailing system of corruption and political favoritism that plagued Lebanon, and that aided and facilitated the activities destabilizing Hezbollah “.
It added: “Basil is no longer eligible to enter the United States under section 7031 (c) of the Allocations Act of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Operations and Related Programs for 2020, due to his involvement in grand corruption.”
Secretary of the Treasury: Systematic Corruption
Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin said: “The systematic corruption in the Lebanese political system, represented by Bassil, has helped undermine the foundations of an effective government that serves the Lebanese people. This designation also demonstrates that the United States supports the people. Lebanese in its continued calls for reform and accountability, “stating that” all property Interests in the property of Basil, and any entity that owns, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more, individually, or with other Prohibited persons, in the United States are prohibited in the states or those in possession or control of American persons and must be reported to the Office of Oversight. Reported foreign assets, unless authorized under a general or special license issued by the Office Foreign Assets Control or are exempt from this, OFAC regulations generally prohibit all transactions that American persons perform either in or in the United States involving any property. Or interests in the property of specified or prohibited persons. “
For its part, the Reuters news agency quoted a US official that the United States will continue to hold corrupt Lebanese politicians accountable. While senior US officials declined to hint whether the imposition of sanctions on Bassil was related to efforts to form the Lebanese government, the agency said.
Basilio, “the oppressed”!
Bassil, in turn, responded to the sanctions, tweeting: “Neither the sanctions scared me nor the promises seduced me. I am not turning against any Lebanese … I am not saving myself to destroy Lebanon.”
The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, revealed that President Donald Trump’s administration is preparing to punish Basil for providing support to his ally Hezbollah, in an attempt to ease the party’s grip on Lebanese power.
Shortly after the leak of this newspaper, former Minister Ghassan Atallah tweeted saying: “We heard about possible sanctions for Minister Bassil, but they do believe that he has made concessions on the wealth of our country and an inch of land and our conviction to reach out to any component of the Lebanese components, then what would it be? Follow a Bedouin who degrades punishments who does not know us … We are from a school that the world can crush me, but does not take my signature.
Nada Al-Bustani, who was Bassil’s adviser before succeeding him at the Energy Ministry, tweeted, saying: “At that time, the world is getting richer with the democracy of the US elections and the last quarter of an hour to manage the Refusal of his people to renew themselves, seeking to repress the political freedom of the owner of the largest popular and Christian representation in Lebanon. Bassil act of innocence of all the campaigns paid by this administration to accuse corruption “.
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