Iran's Rouhani:

Trump's al-Quds bid creates new tension in Middle East

Rasa - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has denounced the recent "incorrect and illegal" decision by his American counterpart to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s “capital,” saying the move would create new tension in the Middle East.

News ID: 435296

Date: 12 December 2017 - 23:18

RNA - Rouhani made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Tehran on Tuesday ahead of his departure for Istanbul, Turkey, to attend an emergency summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) which is scheduled to be convened on Wednesday following US President Donald Trump's declaration of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s “capital" and his country's intention to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city.

"If Muslims maintain their unity and integrity, it will be a big victory for Muslims and the region," Rouhani said.

He added that Quds belongs to all Muslims and would be the "capital of the Palestinian state."

He emphasized that the Muslim world is resisting against the "wrong" US decision in unison and warned of new tensions and the grave consequences that Trump’s decision would have for the Middle East.

"Our message is that the Palestinian cause is the most important issue for Muslims and the Muslim world and Muslims must condemn this move in all international bodies, particularly the United Nations," the Iranian president said.

He reaffirmed Iran's strong support for the Palestinian people and said, "Until all Palestinians return to their homeland and achieve their absolute rights, this support will continue."

The Iranian president emphasized that unity, integrity and resistance of the Muslim Palestinian people in recent days proved that they can stand up against plots hatched by the arrogance and Zionists.

On December 6, Trump sparked international outrage by declaring that Washington was recognizing Jerusalem al-Quds as the “capital” of Israel and that he had instructed his administration to begin the process of moving the American embassy from Tel Aviv to the ancient city.

The announcement prompted harsh international warnings that it would bring more chaos to the Middle East region. Several protests have been held in many countries over the past days against the US and Israel.

The Iranian president on Monday held talks on phone with Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, saying that unity and resistance of the oppressed Palestinian people and other Muslim nations would definitely lead to the failure of the US-Zionist plan to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel's "capital."

Rouhani added that the "insulting" move by the US president was a vicious plan against Palestine and the Muslim world, urging all Muslims to stand against it in unison.

Major General Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps' Quds Force, also on Monday reaffirmed the Islamic Republic's full support for Palestinian resistance movements.

Soleimani made the remarks in a phone call with commanders of Hamas' military wing, Ezzeddin al-Qassam Brigades, which has been defending the blockaded Gaza Strip against Israel's acts of aggression, and the Islamic Jihad resistance movement.

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