Iran promises to help Hezbollah once assets are unfrozen, sanctions are lifted

Iran promises to help Hezbollah once assets are unfrozen, sanctions are lifted

Ronny Reyes / NEW YORK POST 

Iran’s initial peace deal with the US sets the stage for Tehran to bolster Hezbollah’s financial and political grip in Lebanon once cash begins to flow from unfrozen funds and oil deals, according to a new report.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding, Iran stands to gain hundreds of billions from post-war investment, sanction relief and unfrozen funds.

And Iran is promising to use the reconstruction funds to prop up its battered terror proxy in Lebanon, sources familiar with the dealing told Reuters.

Tehran reportedly promised the inflow of cash to Hezbollah as soon as possible, paving the way for the group to rebuild its military wing and political arm in war-torn Lebanon, two regional diplomats and two senior Lebanese sources said.

Hezbollah’s communications office confirmed Iran’s public support for the terror group, which it has propped up for decades — including a transfer of $1 billion last year, according to the US Treasury Department.

The media office insisted that Iran would continue to support Hezbollah “regardless of the details of the retrieval of its funds.”

The 5 passages of the US-Iran peace deal that worry critics the most: ‘Always tries to get more’

Caitlin Doornbos / NEW YORK POST 

Five passages of the 14-point memorandum of understanding that was released Wednesday are giving critics particular concern because they leave so much room open for negotiation and interpretation.

The agreement, which President Trump signed on Wednesday, will serve as the basis for 60-day negotiations that will hammer out the fine details of a plan to end Iran’s nuclear ambitions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

US officials described the framework as a pathway to ending hostilities and reopening negotiations.

But some observers pointed to vague language involving Lebanon, Iranian assets, the Strait of Hormuz and future US policy toward Iran.

“There will be differences of understanding, and this can bring a new misunderstanding, and there is a potential for clash,” said Beni Sabti, an Iranian and Iran expert for Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security studies.

He added: “The Iran regime always tries to get more from what’s written.”

Here are the biggest potential stumbling blocks: