US-backed Israel no friend of regional, Muslim states: Iran president

In a meeting with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov in Tehran on Monday, Raeisi said the US and its Western allies fully supported the Israeli regime’s crimes against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Gaza-based Palestinian resistance groups launched Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, a surprise attack into the occupied territories in response to the Israeli regime’s intensified crimes against the Palestinian people.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, the Israeli onslaught on Gaza has so far killed over 5,087 Palestinians, including 2,055 children and 1,119 women. More than 15,273 people have also been injured.

Foreign interference obstacle to settlement of regional woes: Raeisi

The Iranian president further said regional issues must be solved through dialogue and reiterated the Islamic Republic’s principled stance on the settlement of problems without foreign interference.

He expressed hope that the participants at the second 3+3 regional platform meeting, which is underway in Tehran, would promote constructive cooperation and interaction among the regional countries with the purpose of bolstering peace and stability in Caucasus.

As an important and powerful country in the region, Raeisi said, Iran has always respected national sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries and emphasizes the importance of settling issues through understanding and interaction.

He called for the expansion of Tehran-Baku relations in various fields as among important priorities of Iran’s foreign policy.

Iran, Azerbaijan share stance on resolving regional issues through cooperation: Bayramov

Bayramov, for his part, said Azerbaijan supports Iran’s stance on solving regional issues without the presence of extra-regional powers.

He hailed Iran’s support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and said Baku attaches special significance to the expansion of ties with Tehran.

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raeisi (R) shakes hands with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Tehran on October 23, 2023. (Photo by president.ir)

The top Azerbaijani diplomat also criticized the West for pursing double standard policies in dealing with regional issues, including the ongoing incidents in Gaza.

He said Israel must immediately stop its aggression against the defenseless people in Gaza.

Foreign intervention harms peace, stability in Caucasus: Iran president

In another meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, who is also in Tehran to take part in the 3+3 regional platform meeting, the Iranian president said foreign intervention would harm peace and stability in the Caucasus region.

“Given its strong and influential position, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to help resolve the existing disputes between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia,” Raeisi added.

He noted that Iran attaches importance to security of the Caucasus countries and warned against the destructive role of the US, Israel and Western countries in disrupting peace and stability in the region.

Pointing to the ongoing Israel’s crimes in Gaza and blatant support of the US and its Western allies for the regime, Raeisi said all countries must realize that these arrogant regimes will never be their true friends.

He emphasized that the current events in Gaza are a manifestation of the “racist and apartheid” policies of the Zionists against the regional nations and proof of the gross mistake in establishing relations with the usurping Israeli regime.

The Iranian president said US support for Israel’s criminal acts in Gaza was a continuation of Washington’s failed policy on attacking Iraq and Afghanistan.

“We are confident that the events taking place in Palestine these days will end in favor of Palestinians,” Raeisi pointed out.

The Armenian foreign minister, for his part, praised Iran’s powerful and clear stance on the developments in Caucasus and stressed the importance of holding more meetings and negotiations among the regional countries at the current sensitive juncture.

Mirzoyan condemned Israel’s acts of aggression against Palestinian civilians, especially women and children in Gaza, and said Armenia shares a stance with Iran regarding the Palestinian issue.