Sayyed Khamenei urges Muslim states to boycott, sanction 'Israel'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
1 Nov 2023 15:14

The Iranian leader speaks to an audience of students on the anniversary of storming the US embassy in Tehran.

Sayyed Ali Khamenei attends a meeting with a group of students in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023 (AP)

In his address on the eve of Student Day, marking the anniversary of the 1979 takeover of the US embassy in Tehran, the leader of the Islamic Revolution, Sayyed Ali Khamenei, urged Muslim states to unite and demand an end to Israeli atrocities in Gaza. Sayyed Khamenei's call included imposing sanctions on and halting oil and goods exports to the Zionist entity.

Speaking to the audience, Sayyed Khamenei emphasized the significance of November 4, 1979, when Iranian students took control of the US embassy, a day that continues to be commemorated with nationwide rallies. He described this event as a significant blow to the United States, stating, "The US was disgraced on [November 4, 1979]. This was the blow of the Iranian nation to America."

The Iranian leader recalled that November 4 held historical importance for Iran in two other instances, in 1964 when Imam Khomeini was exiled and in 1978 when students were massacred in Tehran during the Shah regime's rule.

"During the fateful days of the Iranian nation’s revolutionary movement, the Shah’s police slaughtered students right in front of the University [of Tehran]," he recalled.

Sayyed Khamenei further highlighted the courage of the Palestinian people in their resistance against the Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip, commending their determination, which has stirred the conscience of humanity.

"Muslim states must insist on the immediate cessation of [Israeli] crimes in Gaza. They must promptly stop the bombardment of Gaza and stop the export of oil and other commodities to the Zionist regime," he emphasized. "Muslim states must not cooperate economically with the Zionist regime but denounce their crimes fiercely and without hesitation in all international forums."

Furthermore, he called for clarifying the scale and circumstances of the crimes committed in Gaza and condemned the actions of the Zionist regime. Sayyed Khamenei urged the Muslim world to unite against the forces oppressing the Palestinian people, namely the governments of the United States, France, and Britain for their role in supporting Israel.

Yesterday, Iran's Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, emphasized the importance of utilizing the remaining political opportunities to halt the Israeli aggression on Gaza during his meeting with Qatar's Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in Doha on Tuesday. He warned that if the situation escalates further, the repercussions could affect all parties involved.

Amir-Abdollahian commended Qatar's unwavering support for the Palestinian people and expressed concerns about the unpredictable outcomes of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, which is marked by Israeli war crimes supported by the United States and various European governments. He urged Islamic nations to collaborate and take concrete actions to halt Israeli crimes and alleviate the blockade on Gaza.

"As a result of the continuation of the Zionist regime's crimes against the defenseless people and the complete blockade of Gaza, we are gradually witnessing an increase in reactions and the escalation and expansion of the scope of conflicts in the region, and it is natural that the Resistance groups and movements will not remain silent in the face of all these crimes and the full support of the US to the Zionist regime," he added.

Emphasizing that the Resistance groups would not heed anyone's counsel, the Iranian Foreign Minister stressed the importance of utilizing the remaining political opportunities to halt the aggression. He cautioned that if the situation spirals out of control, no party will be immune from the repercussions.