US issues veto on Gulf states providing aid to Lebanon

The United States administration continues to apply pressure to the situation in Lebanon, using both direct and indirect methods.

Thus, Washington has informed Gulf countries, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, that they are prohibited from providing financial support to Lebanon at this stage, Caliber.Az reports per Arab media. 

The US is awaiting developments in its relations with Iran, as well as Lebanon's response to economic, political, and security conditions set by Washington.

Sources revealed that this unannounced "veto" is part of the US policy of "maximum pressure," which will remain in place until the objectives of resolving the obstacles between Lebanon and Israel, as well as disarming Hezbollah, are achieved.

Thus, one source has indicated that the US decision extends beyond Lebanon to also encompass Syria, where American officials are insisting on the full implementation of their list of conditions.

While two official Lebanese sources have denied the existence of an "American veto," two political figures in Lebanon have confirmed that such a directive was indeed communicated to the Gulf states.

In this context, a source close to the US stated that the US is aiming to resolve the Israeli-Arab conflict as part of its broader strategic objectives in the Middle East, including its competition with China, rather than solely for the benefit of Israeli interests.

A political source also suggested that there are indications of an American plan to halt all financial assistance to Lebanon ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections in 2026.

According to the source, the Americans hope that their maximum pressure strategy will force a significant shift in Lebanon’s parliament, encouraging voters to hold Hezbollah accountable for the war's outcome with Israel and the country's deepening economic crisis.

By Aghakazim Guliyev