BEIRUT: Lebanon currently has no plan to negotiate with Iran for the import of fuel, energy minister Raymond GHajjar said on Thursday, after the leader of the Tehran-backed Hezbollah group said it was talking to the Lebanese government about the idea.
Hezbollah鈥檚 Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Tuesday a 鈥渃alm discussion鈥� was underway with the government over the idea of Lebanon buying refined products from Iran in Lebanese pounds, easing the pressure on Beirut鈥檚 hard currency reserves.

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READ MORE: Pompeo - We are trying to prevent Iran from selling crude oil to Hezbollah

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Lebanon is suffering an acute financial crisis and hard currency liquidity crunch. The Lebanese pound has lost some 80% of its value since October, when the long-brewing crisis came to a head.
鈥淭here is no plan to negotiate with Iran at present about importing fuel and the current discussion is with Iraq,鈥� GHajjar said, referring to talks with the Iraqi government over possible fuel supplies.
Referring to Nasrallah鈥檚 comments, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday taking oil from Iran would be unacceptable. 鈥淚t would be sanctioned product for sure, and we鈥檒l do everything we can to make sure that Iran cannot continue to sell crude oil anywhere, including to Hezballah in the region...,鈥� he said.