Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says all countries in the world must make serious efforts to end Israel’s crimes in Gaza and lift the blockade of the Strip.
Pezeshkian made the remarks on Sunday as he received the credentials of new ambassadors of Ethiopia, Estonia, Djibouti, Laos, Cambodia, Burundi, Latvia, Myanmar, and Nepal.
He said the Israeli regime is proceeding with and even escalating its crimes against the defenseless and oppressed people of Palestine in the Gaza Strip.
"All world countries, especially Muslim nations, must make more serious efforts and cooperate to stop these crimes [in Gaza], lift the blockade, and provide unlimited and extensive aid to the innocent people of Gaza,” the Iranian president emphasized.
He warned that an “inhumane catastrophe” was unfolding in Gaza, where Israel is killing innocent people and blocking access to food, water, and medicine in the name of self-defense.
"The greater tragedy is that these crimes are being committed in front of the eyes of those who claim to advocate for human rights, democracy, and the freedom of humanity,” Pezeshkian said.
Israel’s war, which began in October 2023, has killed at least 61,430 Palestinians and injured more than 153,213.
Israel stopped all aid deliveries to Gaza on March 2, after baselessly claiming that the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas is “diverting aid” to justify its weaponization of food against its 2.3 million civilians.
Severe restrictions on food and aid have left the territory facing a worsening starvation crisis, with nearly 217 people— including 100 children—dying of malnutrition in recent months.
Under international pressure for pushing the besieged territory to the verge of famine, at the end of May, Israel forced a new model of aid distribution led by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by Israel and the United States, replacing traditional decades-old United Nations aid groups.
Since then, the UN says, more than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces while trying to reach food.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Pezeshkian reiterated Iran’s keenness to expand friendly ties and constructive cooperation with all countries in the world.
"Iran is ready and interested in developing relations with these countries in all areas of politics, economics, trade, culture, science and technology based on mutual respect and in line with securing mutual interests,” he said.
He stressed the importance of increasing international cooperation and synergy to promote peace, stability, and welfare.
The newly-appointed ambassadors vowed to make their utmost efforts to boost cordial relations and constructive cooperation with Iran.
