TEHRAN– Hezbollah Resistance Movement’s second-in-command, Sheikh Naim Qassem, urged Gulf countries to cooperate with Iran if they want to contribute to regional security.
“If Gulf countries want to thrive and live at ease, they should cooperate with Iran,” Qassem said in a speech on Saturday marking the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, The Daily Star reported, according to The Tasnim News Agency.
He added that “cooperating with Iran is (a source) of power for the Gulf’s security and stability and the future of the region.”
“Iran has always extended its hand to Saudi Arabia and the countries of the region… but they have always refused because the United States doesn’t allow it and Israel doesn’t benefit. Despite that, Iran continues to extend its hand,” the senior Hezbollah official further said.
He went on to add that Iran transferred the region from “the era of defeat to that of victories.”
Sheikh Qassem said that Hezbollah was “proud” of the Iranian support to the party, describing it as a “giver and not a taker.”
“Iran never asked for anything in return from Hezbollah or Lebanon,” he said.
The Hezbollah senior official said that Tehran had proven to the people of the region that they “can make their own choices in building the future against injustice, monopoly and occupation.”
Hezbollah, which enjoys Iran’s unwavering support, is credited with defending Lebanon against wars waged by Israel.
The resistance movement has also been successfully helping the Syrian army in its fight against foreign-backed terrorists.
M.Wassouf