Iran on Tuesday denied allegations by United States President George W. Bush that it was supplying Lebanese and Palestinian groups with arms, foreign ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi told AFP.
He made clear, "Iran denies accusations leveled by the US president on Iran's military support for Palestinian and Lebanese groups," adding, "Iran's backing of the Palestinian and Lebanese people is a merely moral backing".
"The Islamic world does not confirm US views concerning terror and terrorism, and expects US officials to define terrorism just as it is, and to stop using interpretations which only serve and protect the Israeli regime," he said.
Bush said Monday in a speech on his Middle East policies that "Every nation actually committed to peace will stop the flow of money, equipment and recruits to terrorist groups seeking the destruction of Israel, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hizbullah."
"Every nation actually committed to peace must block the shipment of Iranian supplies to these groups and oppose regimes that promote terror, like Iraq. And Syria must choose the right side in the war on terror by closing terrorist camps and expelling terrorist organizations."
Asefi further said Bush's comments "are a repetition of the harsh and unilateral US stance towards the crisis in the Middle East and the defenseless people of Palestine."
"Global public opinion, notably that of Muslims, differs from the viewpoint of America on the Middle East and one of the reasons for the intensification of the crisis and the situation in Palestine is such a superficial and illogical stance," he said.
"Occupation is in an international crime and the Zionist regime continues to occupy Palestinian territories with insistence and by leaning on the backing of the United States," the Iranian top official added.
The "only solution to the Palestinian crisis is to ensure the Palestinian peoples' rights. Without any doubt, this right must be granted because of humanity and to guard the honor of the innocent," he said. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
