Iran cleric calls on Muslims to arm Hizbollah

TEHRAN, Aug 1 (Reuters) Muslim nations should arm Hizbollah in its fight against Israel, Iran's influential hardline clerical politician Ahmad Jannati said today.

Iran has repeatedly said it only provides moral support to Lebanese Hizbollah guerrillas and there was no immediate sign that Iran's official policy has changed.

Israel accuses Iran of providing Hizbollah with missiles used against civilian and military targets.

''We are expecting Muslim nations to provide various kinds of support, including arms, medicine and food to Hizbollah,'' he told the students news agency ISNA.

Jannati heads the Guardian Council, Iran's constitutional watchdog composed of six clerics and six hardline lawyers.

REUTERS DKA KP1518