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The American Wall Street Journal reported that the US administration will impose sanctions on the former Lebanese official, in an attempt to limit the influence of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia over the Lebanese authority.
The newspaper said, citing an informed source, that the sanctions had been approved by the US Treasury and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is expected to reveal the sanctions later on Friday.
Gebran Bassil is reported to be one of Hezbollah’s Christian allies in Lebanon, the son-in-law of the Lebanese president and head of the Free Patriotic Movement.
Last September, the United States blacklisted two Lebanese ministers and says they aided Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran.
About two weeks ago, a day after President Saad Hariri was appointed to form the government, US Under Secretary of State for Near East Affairs David Schenker declared that Washington “will continue to impose sanctions on Hezbollah and its Lebanese allies. and those involved in corruption, “and considered that any new cabinet should implement the necessary reforms. Fight against corruption “.
In an interview with journalists from various countries, in which Al-Arabiya.net participated, he said: “We are involved in the Lebanese archive and we support the Lebanese people, and we continue to insist that all Lebanese governments must bring transparency and reforms , since the Lebanese people demand and fight against corruption, and that there is Accountability for the crimes committed. “
“These are our preconditions for us to continue providing aid to Lebanon, and the French have also said the same, and we, together with the international support group for Lebanon, have clearly said that the legitimate aspirations of the Lebanese people must be fulfilled. As for who should be the prime minister, this is a matter for the Lebanese people alone, “he added.
Schenker emphasized that “Lebanon urgently needs economic reform to combat poverty and corruption, because the public debt figures in Lebanon are bad.”
