Iran’s Zarif Continues Hectic Diplomacy for Muslims’ Collective Action against Israel

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif underscored the necessity for the Muslim countries to take immediate action to stop the Zionist regime’s brutal attacks on the innocent Palestinians in Gaza.
“The Zionist regime has misused the conditions created for the Palestinians under the siege and has waged an opportunistic all-out onslaught on Gaza,” Zarif said in a phone conversation with his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed al-Nahyanon Monday.

He stressed that ceasefire can be exercised only after Palestinians’ demands are met, including removal of the siege on the Gaza Strip and insurances that the Israeli regime would not repeated its aggressions.

Al-Nahyan, for his part, expressed the hope that the influential regional countries’ continued efforts and coordinated moves would lead to an immediate stop to the Zionist regime’s aggressions against the people in Gaza.

In relevant developments on Sunday, Zarif also held phone conversations with his Qatari and Turkish counterparts Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammad Al-Attiyeh and Ahmet Davutoğlu on the dire situation of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

During the phone talks on Sunday afternoon, the Iranian top diplomat underlined the necessity for facilitating and speeding humanitarian aids to Gaza, and proposed cooperation between Iranian, Qatari and Turkish Red Crescent Societies to immediately help the Palestinians.
“In addition to the medical and humanitarian aids to the Gaza Strip, the Palestinians’ demands, including the freedom of their prisoners and improvement of the living conditions of the residents of that region, should be paid serious attention,” he added.

Attiyeh and Davutoğlu, for their parts, stressed the necessity for continued consultations and diplomatic measures at the regional and international levels to stop the Zionist regime’s attacks and establish durable ceasefire.

Also yesterday, Zarif in a telephone conversation with his Omani counterpart Yusuf bin Alawi discussed the latest developments in Palestine, specially Gaza.

During the telephone conversation, Zarif and Alawi underlined the need for proper measures by the international bodies to stop Israel’s aggressions against the defenseless Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Zarif underlined the need for the international community’s all-out pressures on Israel to halt its attacks on the defenseless Palestinians.

The Omani foreign minister, for his part, congratulated the Iranian government and nation on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr, and said, “We hope that we will see alleviation of the pains of the Palestinians through continued consultations among influential Muslim countries.”

Also last week, Zarif contacted his Lebanese counterpart Gebran Bassil, Hamas Politburo Chief Khaled Mashaal and Secretary-General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement Ramazan Abdullah to discuss the latest developments in the Palestinian territories and stress Tehran’s support for the resistance front.

“In these talks, Iran’s support for the resistance and its principled policies on Palestine were stressed,” Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham told reporters in Tehran.

Afkham referred to the other measures adopted by Iranian officials in reaction to the Israeli crimes in the Gaza Strip, and said Tehran also hosted the Inter-Parliamentary Union troika meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in which the necessity for practical measures in support of the Palestinian people was underscored.

Asked about Iran’s position on truce plans in the Palestinian territories, Afkham said, “The viewpoints of the Palestinian groups and people are important to us and the Islamic Republic supports every plan that is accepted by the Palestinian people and provides for their interests.”

“Our stance is whatever position and viewpoint that Palestinian leaders and resistance have,” she added.

Israel has been pounding the blockaded Gaza for 21 consecutive days, killing at least 1,062 people and injuring more than 6,000 others.