President Raeisi: US, West directly supporting Israel’s horrendous crimes in Gaza

Iran's President Ebrahim Raeisi has strongly condemned the United States and other Western countries over their unbridled support for the Israeli regime's atrocities in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Raeisi made the remark in a Monday meeting with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who was in Tehran to take part in the second meeting of the 3+3 regional platform, which includes the three South Caucasus countries of Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan plus Russia, Turkey, and Iran. 

"What is happening in Gaza is a horrendous crime against defenseless and innocent women and children, which is being committed with the direct and official support of the United States and other Western countries," the Iranian president said.

Israel has launched a devastating war on the Palestinian territory since October 7, after the Gaza-based Palestinian resistance groups staged 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 has so far killed over 5,000 Palestinians, including 2,055 children and 1,119 women, while more than 15,000 people have been injured.

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The Palestinian Health Ministry says at least 5,080 people have been killed since October 7.

During the meeting, Raeisi also pointed to recent remarks made by US President Joe Biden during his visit to the occupied territories earlier this month, when he noted, "I have long said: If Israel didn’t exist, we would have to invent it."

"These remarks [by the US president] mean that the Americans are prepared to trample upon the blood of women and children, and the rubble of the Palestinian people's homes in order to meet their [own] interests," the Iranian president said.

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He then pointed to underway efforts by Washington to have the United Nations Security Council pass a resolution that would try to portrait Israel's actions as an instance of "self-defense."

“Today, the United States is trying to pursue through a UN Security Council resolution what it has not been able to achieve in the field with regards to supporting the Zionist regime and meeting its own racist interests," Raeisi said.

Iran's president added, “Therefore, all nations and free-thinking people of the world hope that in view of its position and effective presence in the Security Council and on the international level, Russia would be able to prevent the Americans from achieving their goal."

For his part, the Russian foreign minister laid emphasis on Moscow's commitment to implementation of all of the country's agreements with Iran in economic, commercial, transport, energy, and cultural fields.

Lavrov said his participation in the meeting of the 3+3 regional platform was a manifestation of growing regional cooperation between Iran and Russia.

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Iran’s foreign minister backs the 3+3 framework as an effective mechanism for resolving disputes in the Caucasus region without foreign interference.

According to the Russian top diplomat, further expansion of cooperation among regional countries would help them meet their interests, and at the same time, pursue their development goals.

"During today's meeting, it was emphasized [by all participants] that regional problems must be settled without any interference from foreign parties," Lavrov emphasized.

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