TEHRAN – Leader of the
Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has called on Arab countries to take unequivocal stance against Israeli atrocities after receiving Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani here Thursday.
The Leader touched on “decades-long oppression of the vicious Zionists against the Palestinian people” calling it a bitter reality and a blow to the world of Islam.
“Against these crimes, the Islamic Republic of Iran expects the Arab world to explicitly enter the arena of political action,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.
The Leader cited Israeli raids on the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of the occupied Al-Quds which led to a brief war between the Zionist regime and Palestinian resistance groups in the besieged Gaza Strip.
“Certain Arab countries’ support for the Palestinians was even less than that of some European countries. They took no stance, and even now they’re continuing in the same way,” he said.
“If Arab countries have adopted this position out of their fear of the Zionist regime or due to certain interests, they should know that the Zionist regime today is in a situation where there is no reason to fear it, nor can one expect to gain anything from it,” he added.
The Qatari Emir said Israeli crimes are horrible and must be confronted by all regional countries. He touched on the occupying regime’s murder of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh Wednesday, saying “the Zionists committed this crime in cold blood”.
Ayatollah Khamenei also said the solution to the regional issues is in the hands of the regional countries, which should achieve it through dialogue.
“The issues of Syria and Yemen too can be resolved through dialogue. Of course, dialogue should not take place from a position of weakness while the other side – primarily the U.S. and others – rely on their military and financial power.”
The Leader said there is no need for the interference of outside forces to resolve the regional problems.
He said wherever the Zionists step in, they bring corruption, but they are unable to empower other countries. “Therefore, we the countries of the region must strengthen our relations as much as possible through cooperation and consultation.”
Ayatollah Khamenei further stressed the need for increasing political and economic relations between Iran and Qatar. He said stable and solid relations between the two countries benefits both.
The current level of economic dealings between the two countries

is very low and needs to be multiplied, the Leader said.
On the political front, the ground is ready for more exchange of ideas, he added. “I hope this trip will mark a new beginning for expanding cooperation.”
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi also discussed regional affairs, which have been a main focus of his foreign policy directive, and called for an end to the war in Yemen and stability in neighboring Afghanistan. He emphasized that the region will be worse off if there is any foreign intervention.
Al Thani confirmed that Palestine and regional affairs were major talking points on Thursday. Moreover, he said Qatar will welcome Iranians who wish to watch their national team during the upcoming FIFA World Cup football tournament in November.
The Qatari leader led a delegation to Tehran that also included his foreign minister, Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, who met his Iranian counterpart Hussein Amir-Abdollahian.
The officials also commemorated Al Jazeera’s Abu Akleh and criticized double standards of international organizations and human rights groups in dealing with human rights violations in Palestine.