Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized ongoing efforts to normalize ties between Israel and Arab countries, stating that such actions would not resolve the crisis in the Middle East.
Khamenei dismissed the notion that forcing neighboring countries to normalize relations with Israel would solve the underlying issues.
These comments by Khamenei followed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s announcement that the US was preparing a security package for Saudi Arabia if it agreed to normalize its ties with Israel, a move that has been under discussion but stalled during the recent Gaza conflict.
The conflict in Gaza, sparked by an attack from Hamas on southern Israel, resulted in significant casualties on both sides.
The violence escalated regional tensions, involving Iran-backed groups in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen. Iran, a staunch supporter of Hamas, has reiterated its longstanding stance of not recognizing Israel and advocating for the return of Palestinian territories to the Palestinian people.
“Palestine should be returned to them [Palestinians],” Khamenei emphasized, calling for the Palestinians to form their own system to determine how to engage with Israel.
