TEHRAN: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi affirmed on Sunday Iran’s support for the Palestinians’ right to self-defense and issued a stern warning, asserting that Israel must be held responsible for jeopardizing regional security.
“Iran supports the legitimate defense of the Palestinian nation,” President Raisi stated, as reported by state television. “The Zionist regime (Israel) and its supporters are responsible for endangering the security of nations in the region, and they must be held accountable in this matter.”
Raisi called upon Muslim governments to rally behind the Palestinian cause and commended the “resistance” efforts by groups like Hamas, as well as countries including Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. Earlier, he held discussions with leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, discussing the evolving situation in Palestine.
Iran’s Support for Palestinians
In response to the recent escalation, hundreds of people gathered in major cities across Iran, notably in Tehran’s Palestine Square, brandishing Palestinian flags. Billboards celebrating Hamas’s offensive, named “Al-Aqsa Flood,” adorned the capital, with one proclaiming: “The great liberation operation has begun.” In various cities, crowds set off fireworks, burned Israeli flags, and marched wearing Palestinian colors. The scenes of jubilation were captured in video footage released by IRNA, the state news agency.
Iran has never recognized Israel, and support for the Palestinian cause has been a fundamental aspect of its foreign policy since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The two nations have engaged in a long-standing rivalry, marked by accusations from Iran of Israeli involvement in sabotage attacks and assassinations targeting its nuclear program.
