Al-Manar Television of the Lebanese Hizbollah party has denied that it is coming under pressure to shut down as part of a US-Iranian deal that is said to have been concluded at the expense of Iranian support for the party. Iran has also denied such reports.
Recent reports had cited Arab diplomatic sources as saying that US and western pressures are being exerted to shut down Al-Manar as part of a US-Iranian understanding whose features would become apparent soon.
Engineer Nayif Karim, the chairman of the Board of the Lebanese Media Group - that includes the Al-Manar Television and the Al-Nur radio station that belong to the party - has said: "This information is groundless". In a contact with the London-based Al-Sharq al-Awsat daily, Karim added that these reports were "merely for consumption". He stressed that the Al-Manar channel operated in accordance with the Lebanese laws and statutes in force and that it is a member of the Union of Arab Television Stations. He added: "We know that the station upsets the Israelis and others; however, they cannot silence it". Karim categorically denied any pressures on the station "that is operating in accordance with the well known course of Hizbollah in championing Islamic and Arab issues".
However, the Iranian Embassy in Beirut declined to comment on this report. Iranian Ambassador to Beirut Muhammad Ali Sabhani has denied reports that talked about a reduction in the material and military support for Hizbollah. He emphasized that the Iranian support for the Lebanese resistance and people is "moral support" and will not cease.
Al-Manar station was licensed by the Lebanese government in 1997. According to the Hizbollah, this station aims to preserve the Islamic values and to enhance the civilized role of the Arab and Islamic Community. Al-Manar is the first Arab establishment to stage an effective psychological warfare against Israel. In its course of work, Al-Manar focuses on live talk shows and dialogue programs in which it concentrates on the struggle against Israel. (Albawaba.com)
