Nasrallah: First ship of Iranian oil to head to Lebanon in next few hours

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah announced on Thursday morning that a ship carrying Iranian oil will embark toward Lebanon within a matter of hours, following up a promise he made earlier this week to begin importing Iranian oil to ease Lebanon's oil shortage.

"I would like to announce that our first ship, which will set out from Iran, has completed all the arrangements and will sail within hours," Nasrallah said, adding that the first ship will be carrying diesel since it is a top priority.

Nasrallah promised that this ship would be followed by other ships carrying more oil and warned Israel and the US that "from the moment the Iranian ship sails, [Hezbollah] will consider it Lebanese territory."

The Hezbollah leader warned against challenging his organization on the matter, saying the issue has "become linked to the pride of our people, and we refuse to humiliate this people."

Nasrallah thanked Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi for their support for Lebanon and Hezbollah.

"Despite the siege and sanctions on Iran and the pressures on it, it has never abandoned its allies and has not let down its friends," said Nasrallah. "The severed hand of the martyr Qassem Soleimani on the grounds of the Iraqi airport is a witness that Iran does not abandon its friends."

Nasrallah stated on Thursday that Hezbollah's top priority is to confront Israel.

Nasrallah also said that the US is conducting an economic and media war against Lebanon and inciting Lebanese citizens against Hezbollah.

The Hezbollah leader warned Lebanese citizens against siding with the US, telling them to "take the experience of Afghanistan into consideration." Nasrallah stressed that the "only option for the Lebanese is to meet and cooperate in order to save our country."