10/17/23
Fars News

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian President Seyed Ebrahim Rayeesi slammed Israel's continuation and intensification of military operations in the Gaza Strip, which were supported by Western states, especially the United States, and cautioned that there is a possibility of the expansion of the scope of conflict to other fronts.

Iran's president made the remarks in a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Sunday as the Zionist regime's aerial bombardment has killed at least 2,800 Palestinians and wounded more than 10,000 others in ten days.
Rayeesi told the Russian leader that "the grave catastrophe that is taking place in the region" is the result of "the policies of the US and other Western supporters of the Zionist regime", which are doomed to failure.

He lauded Russia's positive stance in condemning Israel's war crimes and genocide in the Gaza Strip, and warned against the possible spillover of the war to other parts of the region.
"Given the current developments happening in Gaza, there is a possibility of the expansion of the scope of war and conflict to other fronts. In such a case, it will be more difficult to control the situation," the Iranian president said.

Rayeesi called on all countries and international circles, including Russia, as one of the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, to play a more effective role in stopping the Israeli regime's war crimes in the besieged strip.

The president explained that the Israeli regime has resorted to genocide and crimes against the defenseless civilians in Gaza…

He emphasized that widespread bombardment and the use of heavy and unconventional weapons… against residential areas as well as forcing a large population to flee their homes are definitely among the clear examples of crimes against humanity.

President Rayeesi stated that the Israeli regime's leaders are trying to link the cause of the recent events to external issues, however, the ongoing incidents are rooted in the 75 years of oppression, crime, apartheid, and massacre of Palestinian people...

He emphasized that putting an immediate end to Israel's attacks and lifting the blockade of Gaza should be the priority of all the efforts pertaining to the Palestinian issue.

Iran's president added that the common stance of Iran and Russia on the Palestinian issue can prepare a suitable ground for bilateral consultation and efforts aimed at establishing and promoting peace and stability in the region…

Putin, for his part, said that Russia shares the same analysis with Iran regarding the causes of the current crisis in Gaza, and stated there is no justification for Israel's extensive attacks on a dense area with more than two million defenseless residents.
The Russian president urged the Israeli regime to urgently stop its aggression, warning a ground operation in Gaza would be costly and would have…humanitarian repercussions.

Russia is worried about the spread of the current conflict in Gaza to other areas, he added.
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has confirmed that nearly 1 million people have been displaced in one week alone, while the Israeli military prepares for an expected ground invasion as the next stages of its war.

Gaza is one of the most densely populated places on Earth, where some 2 million people live in an area of 140 square miles. It has been almost completely cut off from the rest of the world for nearly 17 years. More than half of its population lives in poverty and is food insecure, with nearly 80% of its population relying on humanitarian assistance.
Human rights groups have stressed that depriving an occupied population of basic necessities is a war crime…(excerpts)

Source:

https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14020725000239/Iran-Warns-f-Gaza-War-Expansin