Iranian FM Urges ‘Realistic’ UK Approach on West Asia
TEHRAN -- Iran’s foreign minister has urged the UK to adopt a “realistic” approach toward the West Asia region’s developments, reminding that the crisis in Palestine is rooted in occupation by the Israeli regime.
“I advise that the British government adopt a realistic approach to the region’s developments,” Hussein Amir-Abdollahian told British counterpart James Cleverly over phone.
“No matter what, one should know that Palestine’s crisis is rooted in occupation by the Israeli regime,” he said.
“From the perspective of the international law, the people of the occupied country enjoy a right to legitimate defense,” the Iranian top diplomat said, noting that the Islamic Republic too recognized confrontation against occupation as “a right.”
Amir-Abdollahian urged immediate cessation of the Zionist regime’s ongoing war against the Gaza Strip, and extensive transfer of humanitarian supplies to the Palestinian territory.
The Iranian foreign minister, meanwhile, advised attention towards the “principle of proportion” in whatever warfare, saying based on the principle, massacre of more than 9,000 Palestinians “is not acceptable by any standard.”
Amir-Abdollahian also said the United States’ extensive support for the Israeli regime served to intensify hostilities in the region.
He said the region’s resistance forces “do not take orders from Iran, but rather take decisions based on existing circumstances and in line with national and regional security.”
Cleverly, for his part, asked the Islamic Republic to try to prevent expansion of the extent of war in the region.
He also attached importance to the Islamic Republic and his country’s cooperation within the framework of existing diplomatic conventions.
Amir-Abdollahian and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov also discussed the latest developments in Gaza, expressing concern over the spillover of the Israeli war to other parts of the region.
In a phone conversation, Amir-Abdollahian urged the international community to make more serious efforts to put an end to the occupying regime of Israel’s criminal acts and genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Lavrov said Russia and Iran have a common stance on the critical situation in Palestine, particularly in Gaza, which has been under Israeli attacks since October 7.
The top Russian diplomat added that his country is concerned that the expansion of war would spiral the situation out of control.
Amir-Abdollahian also held separate phone talks with Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal Mekdad and Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
On Saturday, Amir-Abdollahian and his Brazilian counterpart Mauro
Vieira stressed the need for establishing a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and dispatching humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave.
During a telephone conversation on Saturday, Amirabdollahian and Vieira discussed the latest developments in Gaza.
Referring to the efforts of the Brazilian government in submitting a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council over ending the conflict in Gaza, the top Iranian diplomat stressed the need for establishing a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and dispatching humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave.
Vieira, for his part, pointed to Iran’s pivotal role in the region and hailed Iran’s constructive efforts in establishing peace and security in the region and the world.
Calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and sending humanitarian aid to Gazans, he stressed the need to provide an opportunity for the safe withdrawal of foreign nationals from the enclave.