Iran commander welcomes Mubarak trial

A senior Iranian commander has welcomed the decision by Egyptian authorities to try the North African’s ousted dictator Hosni Mubarak, saying the move is the result of the Egyptian’s resistance.

Deputy Head of Iran’s Armed Forces Joint Chiefs of Staff Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri said on Monday that Arab dictatorial regimes and their Western supporters seek to prevent Mubarak’s trial through any means because they fear that the ousted Egyptian dictator may unveil “their secret political ties and treacherous agreements” against Palestinians.

Mubarak, who was ousted by a popular revolution back in February has been under arrest at a hospital in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, is expected to face trial on August 3rd.

Mubarak and his sons are charged with ordering the shooting of anti-regime demonstrators during the revolution.

The Mubarak family also is facing allegations of corruption as well as the use of violence against protesters.

“Mubarak’s record is full of dark spots and treason against Arabs, especially the oppressed people of Palestine,” Jazayeri noted.

The Iranian commander went on to say that Mubarak should be held responsible for his attempts to help Israel impose a blockade on the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli regime laid an economic siege on the Gaza Strip in June 2007 after Hamas took over the administration of the enclave.

Some 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including the freedom of movement and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.

The United Nations has repeatedly appealed for the opening of all crossings into the Gaza Strip, warning of the severe negative impact on Gaza’s population.

Jazayeri added that the trail of Mubarak would prepare the ground for the annulment of treaties signed by Mubarak during the past decades including a deal to export gas to Israel.

Egypt supplies 40 percent of Israel’s natural gas demand based on a deal reached between Cairo and Tel Aviv after the 1979 peace accord.

The Egyptian opposition groups are also openly against the new gas deals signed between Cairo and Tel Aviv under Mubarak in 2005.

The developments come as Mubarak and his former petroleum minister are being investigated for selling artificially cheap gas to Israel.