The Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah says it can still count on support from Iran, even after Tehran signed a nuclear deal with six global powers.
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah told supporters Saturday that "Iran's relationship with its allies is based on ideological grounds and come before the political interests."
Iran has been the chief backer and arms supplier to Hezbollah, which the United States regards as a terrorist group for threatening the West and calling for the destruction of Israel.
Hezbollah fighters are also in Syria supporting the military of President Bashar al-Assad.
The U.S. imposed sanctions on three Hezbollah leaders and a Lebanese businessman this week for providing support to what it calls "Assad's ruthless military campaign in Syria."
Although the U.S. and five other powers signed the nuclear agreement with Iran, the Obama administration says it remains deeply concerned by Iranian support for such activities as Hezbollah, the Syrian government and Yemen's Houthi rebels.