Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam said on Monday that he will work to restore relations with Saudi Arabia following the Kingdom’s decision to halt $3 billion in grants to the country.
Salam told reporters following an emergency cabinet meeting that Lebanon “will never forget Saudi Arabia’s permanent support for Lebanon and its institutions”. Adding: “We strongly condemn the attack against the Saudi embassy and consulate in Iran”.
The prime minister’s remarks come after Riyadh halted on Friday security aid worth $4 billion destined for the Lebanese army and the Internal Security Forces, citing the country’s stances “that are not in harmony with brotherly relations between the two countries”.
Saudi Arabia said it was halting the military aid programme over Lebanon’s failure to support the Kingdom in its recent row with Iran.
The Gulf Cooperation Council has supported Saudi’s position.
Salam acknowledged earlier that his country did not act properly in dealing with Riyadh, pledging in an interview with a Saudi newspaper to rectify the situation at a government meeting on Monday.
“Lebanon has never acted outside the Arab consensus, and a slip does not mean that this is our main position,” Salam told the Middle East newspaper.