Iran offers sympathy, assistance for Lebanon following massive blast
Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has extended sympathy with Lebanese nation following the huge blast which led to killing of tens of people and announced his country's readiness to deploy any necessary assistance for the Arab country.
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In a post on his official Twitter account on Tuesday, Zarif said Iranians thoughts and prayers are with the "great and resilient people of Lebanon."
The top Iranian diplomat also called on the Lebanese people and government to "stay strong.”
A warehouse at the Beirut Port caught fire on Tuesday afternoon, triggering a huge explosion, Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) reported.
Several smaller explosions were heard before the bigger one occurred.
Footage shared on social media captured the moment of the bigger explosion, with a colossal shock wave seen traveling fast across several hundreds of meters and shrouding the area in thick smoke.
The health ministry in Lebanon announced that the death toll from the massive explosion in Beirut stood at more than 70, and the number of injured was over 3,700.
Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab vowed that those responsible for the massive blast in Beirut would be held to account, also calling for international assistance to help the country, which is already beset by economic crises.
Diab announced three days of national mourning for the victims of the deadly blast in Lebanon, also declaring a state of emergency across the country for two weeks.
Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani expressed heartfelt condolences to the people of Lebanon for the tragic incident, and said Tehran was ready to help Beirut by all means.
“I offer my heartfelt condolences to the president, the government and the people of Lebanon on the explosion in Beirut and the death and injury of a number of Lebanese people,” Shamkhani said in a tweet in Persian.
“We share the great sorrow of Lebanon, and we stand by its proud and resilient people for any help and assistance,” he added.
Lebanon's prime minister said a committee to investigate the Beirut Port disaster would be formed, and that the panel would prepare its report within five days.
