Larijani warns of Israel-US plots

Iranian Parliament (Majlis) Speaker Ali Larijani warns against Israeli and US plots against Muslims, saying the footprints of Tel Aviv and Washington can be seen in issues of the Muslim world.

Larijani pointed to the latest developments in Tunisia, Palestine and Lebanon and said signs of international opportunistic agents can be easily seen in these countries, IRNA reported on Wednesday.

He added that moves by certain countries aimed at damaging the Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, have turned into an attitude against themselves which brought disgrace on them.

Referring to the US-sponsored Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) on the assassination of Lebanon’s former Prime Minister Refiq Hariri, the Iranian Majlis speaker noted that certain countries have made efforts to cause tension in the region for a long time.

“However, vigilant leaders of the Lebanese resistance movement are adopting great measures in line with the interests of the Muslim world,” Larijani went on to say.

“This ignominy is shameful for the United States and Zionists,” he stressed.

The Washington-sponsored tribunal was set up in 2007 to probe the assassination of Rafiq Hariri, who was killed along with more than 20 other people in a massive car bombing in the Lebanese capital of Beirut in February 2005.

The tribunal has been denounced by many political parties in Lebanon, including the Hezbollah resistance movement, for ignoring evidence of the Israeli involvement in the terror case as well as relying on false witnesses regarding the incident.

Reports say that the US-backed court was likely to issue an indictment against some Hezbollah members.

Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah has vehemently rebuffed the allegations and described the tribunal as part of dangerous projects, targeting the resistance movement.

Larijani also pointed to ongoing Israeli-US developments in Tunisia and said it is unlikely that the US would be able to take advantage of the situation with regard to the Islamic vigilance of the Tunisian people.

“It is unlikely that Western countries will make a success through deceit,” he mentioned.

The 23-year rule of former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali came to an end after weeks of street protests culminated in the victory of a popular revolution. Ben Ali’s era was marred by numerous human rights violations and acts of torture.