Iranians March in Solidarity with Palestinians, Ahmadinejad Urges Global Front against Israel

Iranians March in Solidarity with Palestinians

28 of Ramadhan, 1430

September 18, 2009

TEHRAN (FNA)-

Millions of Iranians took to the streets in different cities of the country to mark the annual Quds Day march in solidarity with Palestinians.

The late founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Khomeini, in August 1979 declared the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan as al-Quds Day, calling for international rallies in support of Palestinians and against Israel.

Iranians marched nationwide, namely in Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz and Mashhad, in opposition to the continued occupation of the holy lands by the Zionist regime.

Several Iranian officials including the newly appointed head of the judiciary Sadeq Larijani attended the demonstration in Tehran, press tv reported.

Secretary General of Islamic Jihad Movement Ramezan Abdullah and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal were also present at the rallies.

At the end of the rallies, a statement was issued in support of Palestinians.

The statement said that the Iranians "support Palestinian resistance", adding that "Israel must avoid any new adventurism" in the region.

President Urges Global Front against Israel

TEHRAN (FNA)-

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Friday underlined that the whole world has the 'duty' to take the responsibility to confront Israel to ensure global peace.

In a pre-sermon speech to Friday prayers worshippers on the International Qods Day, President Ahmadinejad maintained that countering Israel was a 'humanitarian principle'.

Millions of Iranians across the country took to the streets on Friday to mark the annual Qods Day march in solidarity with Palestinians, press tv reported.

Ahmadinejad urged all nations in particular the regional countries to stand up to Israel, arguing that the very existence of the regime has 'jeopardized' the whole region.

The existence of the Zionist regime amounts to an eternal insecurity in the region, President Ahmadinejad said, adding that the regional countries will never recognize Israel.

"The Zionist regime is the symbol of lies and deception," which was founded on 'colonialist' attitudes, President Ahmadinejad added.

The Iranian leader said Zionism seeks to build a global empire to dominate the whole world so it was in the national interests of any country to face up to the 'fake regime'.

The president then went on to question the story behind the Holocaust and urged a probe into it.

"If the Holocaust, as you claim, is true, why don't you allow a probe into the issue?"

President Ahmadinejad then promised Iran's full support for the Palestinian nation and said 'Qods Day is the day of unity' for Iranians, Muslims and the international community.

Qods Day, designated by the late founder of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, is observed on the last Friday of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Mass rallies are held in different parts of the world on the occasion every year in solidarity with Palestinians and in condemnation of the occupation of Jerusalem (al-Qods).

President Terms Iran Flag-Bearer of Defense of Palestinians

TEHRAN (FNA)-

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said here Friday that Islamic Iran is the flag-bearer of defense of righteousness of the oppressed Palestinian people.

President Ahmadinejad told reporters on the sidelines of the World Quds Day rallies that Quds is an international issue, concerning whole the world of Islam, the Islamic republic news agency reported.

He said the world of Islam should get united to defend the oppressed Palestinian people and condemn crimes of the usurper Zionists and occupiers.

He stressed that defense of the rights of the oppressed Palestinian nation is the duty of all the world Muslims and Islamic Iran is proud today that, as the flag holder of defending the oppressed Palestinian people, will always remain their supporter and condemn crimes against them.

Iran Calls Israel 'Main Obstacle' to N. Free Middle East

TEHRAN (FNA)-

Iran's ambassador to the UN nuclear watchdog Ali Asqar Soltanieh blamed Israel as the 'main obstacle' in the way of a nuclear-free Middle East.

Soltanieh said on Thursday that Israel was hampering international moves by 'not adhering to the NPT' and not putting its nuclear installations 'under the IAEA fully scoped safeguards'.

"If the Israelis were not obstacles, we should have had a nuclear free zone for the last 30 years. Therefore this is the main obstacle," press tv quoted Soltanieh as saying.

Israel, the sixth-largest nuclear power, maintains a policy known as 'nuclear ambiguity' and has so far refused to sign the NPT.

The envoy added that Iran would 'strongly' support any resolution on the 'important issue'.

Soltanieh made the comments on the fourth day of the 53rd General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna on Thursday.

His remarks come as on the same day, the UN nuclear assembly, in a symbolic vote, adopted a resolution urging all Middle East nations to renounce atomic bombs.

The non-binding resolution received a positive vote by nearly all Asian, Latin American, African and Islamic nations while Israel was the only one to vote no.

The United States, Canada, Georgia and India abstained.

Other than Israel, India and Pakistan are outside the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).