Damascus: Senior Delegation of the Lebanese Government arrived in Syria on Saturday for talks expected to focus on a crippling fuel crisis that has paralyzed Lebanon.
It marked the highest official visit since the Syrian civil war began more than a decade ago.
Lebanon expects fuel delivery from Iran, which said local media must be delivered in the main port of Syria and transported by land.
The leader of the Lebanese militant group supported by Iran, Hezbollah has arranged with allies in Tehran to send fuel to Lebanon to help relieve the shortage of fuel of small countries.
Shipping will violate US sanctions against Iran imposed by former President Donald Trump, who pulled Washington from a nuclear agreement between Iran and World Powers in 2018.
There was no date for the arrival of fuel but delivery to Lebanon was seen as a US sanction test and many in Lebanon fear It can trigger a punishment.
US officials have warned against Lebanon using Iranian oil and has offered assistance to deal with the economic crisis, the biggest threat to Lebanese stability in decades.
Visiting US officials said they were in talks with Lebanese officials, Egypt and Jordan to find a long-term solution for the fuel crisis.
One solution that has drifted is to arrange the delivery of Egyptian natural gas through Jordan through a pipeline that passes through Syria.
“The agenda is to discuss bring Egyptian natural gas to Jordan, then to Syria and Lebanon to help with energy production …
and see the existing offer and achieve a new understanding,” said Nasri Khoury, Syrian Lebanese head based in Damascus higher the board , the body related to the government.
The 2009 agreement to provide natural gas through pipes that flow through Syria has been inactive since 2010 and the Syrian War has damaged the pipeline.
Iran has sent fuel to the Government of Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has been supported throughout the war that broke out in 2011.
Now, with Iran fuel designated for Lebanon, it is expected to be lowered in Baniyas, a Syrian port, and then transported by land on board Tanker to Lebanon.
Media reports say transportation is likely to be held by Hezbollah.
Lebanon has been divided into Syrian civil war – with the government maintaining a diplomatic bond but divided into visits and sustainable regular state relations.
Hezbollah, a group supported by Iran, has sent fighters to Syria to support Assad forces in their war against opponents.
But the other parties in Lebanon supported the opposition, leaving Lebanese politics greatly shared how to deal with the Syrian government.
Relations have been stored largely to deal with security issues.
This is the first official visit.
Syrian media has touted as a visit that “solves the relationship between ice and (revive)” between the two countries.
The high-level delegation was led by the Minister of Caregiver and Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Zeina Root, and Minister of Energy and Finance.
The head of Lebanon’s top negotiator and security, Abbas Ibrahim was also between delegates.
Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad received a delegation on the border that crossed Saturday before they went to Damascus together.
The Lebanese economic crisis has been described by the World Bank as one of the most severe has been witnessed since the 1850s.
The currency has hit a foreign bank’s foreign reserves dry, which leads to lack of crippling drugs and fuel.