Member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Iranian Parliament, Abolfazl Amouei, told Al Mayadeen that Iran's fuel-laden ships to Lebanon are considered "legitimate trade," adding that "any mistake by the Zionists, or others, will be met with a joint Iranian-Lebanese response."

Earlier today, the Iranian Foreign Ministry stressed that the sending of Iranian fuel is a "sovereign decision", noting that America is not in a position to prevent legitimate trade between sovereign countries. 

The background

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had announced on the day of Ashura that the first diesel-loaded ship has set sail to Lebanon, which is suffering from a severe fuel shortage as a result of an economic embargo. He also warned against intercepting the ship, deeming it a Lebanese sovereign territory.

Sayyed Nasrallah also spoke of two other ships, emphasizing that Iran is expected to send a fleet of fuel ships to Lebanon.