Iran’s supreme leader wants Muslim countries to stop selling oil and food to Israel, demanding an end to the war.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei has called on Muslim states to stop oil and food exports to Israel, demanding an end to bombing of the Gaza Strip.
“The bombing of Gaza must stop immediately… oil and food exports to the Zionist regime must be stopped,” Khamenei said in a speech Wednesday, according to Iranian state media.
He suggested that “the people of Gaza have mobilized public consciousness through their patience,” referring to pro-Palestinian protests around the world.
“Look at what’s happening in the world. In the United Kingdom, France, Italy and the United States, many people took to the streets and chanted slogans against Israel and the United States. They have lost their credibility and, in reality, there is no remedy for them because they cannot justify Israel’s attack,” Khamenei said.
“The Islamic world should not forget that in the case of Gaza, it was the United States, France and the United Kingdom who opposed the oppressed people of Gaza, and not just the Zionist regime. »
Thousands of deaths
Israel has vowed to eliminate Tehran-backed Hamas, the armed group that rules Gaza, following an October 7 attack that Israel says killed 1,405 people and took hundreds prisoner.
Israel launched an unprecedented bombardment of Gaza and imposed a siege on the enclave. Palestinian authorities say nearly 8,800 people were killed.
Iran’s clerical leaders have warned Israel of escalation if they do not end aggression against the Palestinians, indicating that Tehran-backed proxies in the region are ready to act.
Iran’s top diplomat, Hossein Amirabdollahian, said Tuesday that “it is natural that resistance groups and movements do not remain silent in the face of all these crimes” committed by Israel.
“They will not wait for anyone’s opinion, which is why we must use the last political opportunities to stop the war,” he continued, warning that the situation could “get out of control”.
The statement came hours after Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed to have launched a “large number” of ballistic missiles and drones towards southern Israel, with the group vowing to continue its attacks.
The same day, the Israeli military said its forces had intercepted a “surface-to-surface missile” fired towards Israeli territory from the Red Sea area, saying it had been “successfully intercepted” by the Arrow air defense.
