Iran urges Asia to sever Israel ties

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani Asian countries to sever relations with Israel in response to Tel Aviv’s raid on a Gaza-bound aid convoy.

“The parliaments of Asian countries should call on their respected governments to cut political and economic ties with Israel,” Larijani said.

He was addressing the opening of the Asian Inter-parliamentary Assembly, currently held in the Iranian capital of Tehran.

At least 20 people were killed and more than 50 injured on Monday in the Israeli navy’s raid on the international aid convoy Freedom Flotilla which was carrying humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip.

Larijani said the Israeli regime has only survived due to the full-fledged support of the United States and Britain.

“Those corrupt countries which created this fake regime continue to support its survival. Britain and America and other Western countries… keep this regime alive by military and financial support,” he said.

The UN Security Council on Monday condemned the deadly attack, demanding the immediate release of some 487 activists Israel detained during the raid on the convoy of nine ships.

The Freedom Flotilla convoy was carrying 10,000 tons of supplies and hundreds of politicians, activists and journalists to break the three-year Israeli imposed blockade on the Gaza Strip.

Larijani further called for the Asian countries’ support of the Palestinians’ “strategy of resistance,” adding that more aid convoys should be formed to help break the Israel siege of Gaza.