WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. government on Friday imposed sanctions against two Lebanese businessmen, accusing them of providing financial support for Hezbollah.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that the designated businessmen, Nazem Ahmad and Saleh Assi, have provided financial support for Hezbollah through "illicit financial activities, including money laundering and tax evasion" for years.
"We will continue to use all tools at our disposal to counter the threat Hizballah poses to stability in Lebanon and in the Middle East," Pompeo added.
According to a separate statement from the Treasury, all property and interests in property of the designated targets subject to U.S. jurisdiction must be blocked, and U.S. citizens are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. Persons that engage in certain transactions with the persons designated may themselves be exposed to the designation.
Earlier this month, Hezbollah's deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem slammed the United States for interfering in Lebanon's internal affairs, Lebanese National News Agency reported.
"U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo does not want Hezbollah to have a role in the coming government while the party represents part of the Lebanese population," Qassem said.
The U.S. State Department designated Hezbollah as a Specially Designed Global Terrorist group in October 2001.
