Iran Daily
December 9, 2017 Saturday
Iran: US move aimed at legitimizing Israeli occupation
"Occupation of the Palestinian land lies at the root of all crises in
our region and any action to deny the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, including with regard to the holy city of Al-Quds
and particularly Al-Aqsa Mosque, will only result in more bloodshed
and rage," Khoshroo said in an address to a United Nations General
Assembly meeting in New York on Friday.
He added that bids aimed at legitimizing the Israeli occupation in the
Middle East region by rejecting the historical realities would
"gravely" undermine peace, Press TV reported.
Iran strongly condemns the US recognition of Beit-ul-Moqaddas as the
Israeli regime's capital and the plan to transfer the US Embassy to
this holy city, he said.
The Iranian envoy emphasized that the "unilateral" act constitutes a
"grave violation of international law," as any territorial acquisition
resulting from the use of force is illegal.
"The US action is not only illegal but also indicates how hypocritical
its policy is with regard to the peace and stability in the Middle
East," Khoshroo said.
He added that the international community holds the US and the Israeli
regime responsible for "all dangerous consequences of this reckless
and illegal act."
"Throughout history, occupation and peace have never gone hand in
hand. The case at hand is no exception, and there can be no peace and
justice as long as the occupation of the Palestinian land continues,"
he pointed out.
Large groups of Iranians took to the streets across the country to
protest against the US move.
An Iranian Armenian religious leader and the country's Armenian
lawmakers decried the controversial decision by the US president,
Tasnim News Agency reported.
In a statement on Saturday, the Armenian Orthodox prelate of the
diocese of Tehran, Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, denounced Trump's
decision as a "wrong and cruel" move that is unacceptable to the
followers of Christianity and Islam.
The holy city of Quds, the cradle of monotheistic religions, will
remain as an indispensable part of Palestine, he said, warning that
Trump's move undermines efforts to establish peace and safeguard the
rights of Palestinians to gain independence.
Moreover, two Iranian Armenian parliamentarians, Karen Khanlari and
Jorjik Abramian, condemned the US decision to relocate its embassy to
Quds as a move against international regulations and historical and
political facts.
They also warned that the move by the US administration has been
induced by the international Zionism.
The US president on Wednesday defied global warnings and said
Washington formally recognizes Beit-ul-Moqaddas as the "capital" of
Israel, and will begin the process of moving its embassy to the
occupied city, breaking with decades of American policy despite
widespread international opposition.
Israel has occupied East Beit-ul-Moqaddas since the 1967 Six-Day War.
It annexed the area in 1980 and sees it as its exclusive domain. Under
international law, the area is considered to be occupied territory.
