Referendum among Palestinians only way to peace: Iran MP

An Iranian lawmaker says hoding a referendum and respecting the rights of the Palestinians are the only ways to establishing peace in the region.

“Holding a referendum and respecting the right of the real inhabitants of Palestine are the only ways to establish peace,” Nozar Shafiei, a member of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said on Saturday.

Shafiei pointed to the recent remarks by US President Barack Obama’s nominee for Secretary of State, Senator John Kerry, about the resumption of talks between Israel and the Palestinians and said that Washington is pursuing its own interests in the region.

“When US statesmen speak of peace, they mean to devise an order to establish specific structures and implement their own policies,” the Iranian legislator pointed out.

Shafiei reiterated that holding a referendum is the best way to fulfill the demands of the Palestinian people.

During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday, Kerry said that he believes there is a “way forward” on talks between Israel and the Palestinians.