TEHRAN: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has accused the United States of actively encouraging Israel to commit “cruel acts” against the innocent Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. President Raisi condemned the US’s support for Israel, stating that American aid provided weapons and intelligence, encouraging the Israeli regime’s aggression.
In a joint press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammed S. Al-Sudani in Tehran’s Sa’dabad palace, Raisi dismissed US claims of working towards a ceasefire, labeling them as false and incompatible with their actions.
He argued that the recent crisis in Gaza, marked by the Israeli military’s intense bombardment and ground operations, had resulted in the deaths of more than 10,000 innocent Palestinians, mostly women and children. He emphasized that the support from the United States was reinforcing Israel’s violent actions, prolonging the suffering of the Palestinian people.
“We believe that the bombings must stop as soon as possible, that a ceasefire must be declared immediately, and aid must be provided to the oppressed and proud people of Gaza,” President Raisi asserted during the press conference. He condemned the ongoing Israeli attacks as “horrible crimes against humanity” and labeled them as genocide, carried out with the support of the United States and certain European countries.
President Raisi Appreciates Iraq’s Stance on Palestinian Issue
President Raisi also expressed Iran’s support for any efforts by Islamic countries, both regionally and internationally, to prevent further bloodshed in Gaza and protect the innocent people of Gaza. He appreciated the stance of the Iraqi Prime Minister on the Palestinian issue and emphasized the need for solidarity among Muslim nations against Israeli aggression.
The visit of the Iraqi Prime Minister to Iran coincided with a surprise visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Baghdad as part of his diplomatic tour of the Middle East. Blinken’s visit to Iraq came amid escalating tensions in the region.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi Prime Minister said, “We emphasize the strong and principled position of Iraq in relation to the issue of Palestine and the struggle of the Palestinian people to materialize their freedom and form an independent state.”
Al-Sudani said that today, they talked about the privileged bilateral ties between Iran and Iraq. “We witnessed that these ties have grown and expanded in several fields, so it will certainly benefit both countries.”
