TEHRAN – A senior Iranian parliamentarian said on Monday that Tehran has packed up arms shipments bound for Lebanon months after Saudi Arabia’s revocation of a 4-billion aid to the Lebanese army. 

“Not only has Iran taken the decision in this regard, but has prepared the shipment and shown it to the Lebanese defense minister,” said Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of the Iranian parliamentary committee for national security and foreign policy, according to Tasnim. 

Boroujerdi is just back from a two-day visit to Lebanon after meetings with senior Lebanese officials, including Prime Minister Tammam Salam. 
While the lawmaker did not provide more details, he stressed that the decision was motivated by security issues in Lebanon which has a diverse sectarian composition. 
“The security of Lebanon is important for us and we want this to be sustainable. We felt called upon and now it’s up to the Lebanese government to make their mind up,” Boroujerdi explained. 
The announcement is a new step in the fierce rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which back opposing sides in Syria and are competing for regional influence.
In February, Saudi Arabia announced it was giving a second thought to a military aid of $4 billion worth earmarked for the army and security services of Lebanon because Beirut voiced no condemnation of the storming of Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran. 
Official condemnations of the attacks by the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) did not draw endorsement from the Lebanese government as it lambasted Hezbollah, as well. 
The attacks were public objections to the execution of the prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr by Riyadh on terrorism charges.
Meanwhile, other resources said the decision had more to do with Saudis’ shrinking purses after plunging oil prices left the oil-rich country short of money as well as costs of the war on Yemen. 
“Saudi has money problems,” said Hisham Jaber, a retired major general in the Lebanese Army. 
“If I were Saudi Arabia, I would prefer to spend this money to buy weapons and ammunition to shell Yemen instead of giving it to Lebanon,” said General Jaber, a retired major general in the Lebanese Army, according to the Washington Post. 
He also criticized the kingdom for using Lebanon in its struggle against Iran.
“There is a problem between Saudi Arabia and Iran; why should that involve Lebanon?” he said.

AK/PA