Iran Deplores Israeli Oppression Against Palestinians

Tehran, March 18, IRNA – Green light of World powers to the Zionist regime and their material and political support has led to the oppression of the Palestinians in the past 60 years, Chairman of the Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said on Monday. Ayatollah Rafsanjani made the remarks in a meeting with a visiting delegation from the Brussels-based International Crisis Group. He appealed to the international community to make every effort to prevent the spread of war and violence amid growing concerns about outbreak of war and bloodshed throughout the world. In response to Louise Arbour, President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Crisis Group, who referred to Myanmar as an example of her good performance, Ayatollah Rafsanjani expressed indignation at the ongoing violence in Myanmar and that the Muslim people are exposed to bloodshed due to inaction of international community. He accused the world powers of seeking their own interests through colonial policies in other countries under the disguise of the so-called human rights. In the meantime, the president and chief executive officer of the International Crisis Group briefed the Ayatollah on the activities and plans of her group and said the groupˈs duty is to help prevent armed conflicts across the globe and that it serves the interests of no country. During her stay in Iran, Ms. Arbour said she had discussed the humanitarian crises in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Ukraine as well as Iranˈs nuclear dispute with the West. She lauded Ayatollah Rafsanjani for his respect for the law when he was disqualified to run for the president by the Guardian Council, an Iranian body in charge of vetting the candidates, last year./end