Deputy Prime Minister Saadeh Al-Shami said “We have not reached a deadlock yet” explaining that Lebanon want the best relations with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf in general, and this was confirmed by the Prime Minister.

Al-Shami added that “what is happening is not a crisis, but rather a transient problem, and work is underway to find solutions.”

He added that Mikati has called him and told him that his meetings were fruitful and positive, and that the head of the “International Monetary Fund” has assured her readiness to help Lebanon.

Al-Shami said: “We aspire to reach a memorandum of understanding with the IMF before the end of the year.”

He added that “the crisis with the Gulf affects more agricultural and industrial exports,” stressing that “the Gulf measures were tough because they will affect all the Lebanese.

“I understand the situation and the reaction in light of the tension in relations for a while,” he said, noting that “We have to separate politics from economics, because the top priority in the country today is the living crisis.”