Amir Abdollahian: Normalization with Israel after October 7 will have a heavy cost

According to Tasnim news agency, Dr. Hossein Amirabdollahian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic Islamic Iran, on the sidelines of his trip to New York, had a conversation with Al-Monitor.

Read the details of this conversation below.

Al-Monitor: There is a lot of talk about holding a conference or a possible international process that could lead to the formation of a Palestinian state after the end of the Gaza war. Will Iran participate in this conference or international process?

Post-war Gaza is a very important issue; This topic has been occupying minds for weeks. But we think that for post-war Gaza, the center of any decision should be the Palestinian leaders and others should support it. Palestinian-Palestinian dialogues should be formed and they should reach conclusions about how to manage Gaza and the West Bank.

that others If they want to make a decision for the Palestinians, such an action will not lead to good results. But it is important that others support the Palestinian decision. When I talk about Palestinians, I mean all Palestinian groups with different ideas. They should also have the right to choose. How to manage Gaza and the West Bank? How should Palestine be governed? An alternative model should be created with the help of the United Nations. With the normalization (relations) of Saudi Arabia with Israel, if it helps pave the way for the formation of the Palestinian state and the process we are talking about, is it against or does it support it?

We discussed this with the Saudis. The Saudis told us that Palestine is their top priority. Regarding the normalization of relations, Israel’s recent actions have made the conditions complicated and difficult for any country that wants to normalize relations with the Israeli regime. Now there is a serious question in our region, they say: normalization with whom? With the regime that killed 25 thousand women, children and civilians? With the regime against which protests have been held in the streets of the world and even America and Europe due to genocide? Today’s genocidal conditions of the Israeli regime are very different from before the 7th of October. A country that wants to normalize relations with Israel in this situation will have to pay a heavy price.

Al-Monitor: Let me ask about Iraq. This country has again become a battleground between Iranian-backed Iraqi militias and American forces. In your talks with the Iraqi government, do you still insist that the American forces withdraw from Iraq? Can you elaborate on what appears to be a troubling discrepancy in Iran-Iraq relations?

Iraq will return, it is a matter that the Iraqis themselves must decide. Let me turn to Lebanon. Does Iran oppose or support the border delimitation agreement between Israel and Hezbollah to reduce tensions in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1701?

This is a matter between the Lebanese government and the Israeli regime. Naturally, the Lebanese are looking for their sovereignty and territorial integrity to be preserved in the best way. The stabilization of the Lebanese people’s rights in this regard is of interest to them. This is an internal Lebanese matter and we do not interfere in the internal affairs of Lebanon.

Al-Monitor:  You’ve talked before about the back channels used to get messages to the U.S. Can you elaborate on whether you’ve received or sent messages directly or indirectly from the Biden administration regarding de-escalation? >

During the past 110 days, various messages have been exchanged between Iran and the United States about developments in the region and Gaza. Last week in Davos and in a meeting with British Foreign Minister David Cameron, I told him frankly that the joint attack of the United States and Britain on Yemen was a strategic mistake. Of course; We have seen that in the recent actions of the Israeli regime in Gaza in the last 110 days, everything has been done with the full support of America; With the weapons that America gives them, with the political and international support of America and even with the presence of American military and security advisers. Therefore, today in Gaza and the West Bank, America is heavily involved in the war alongside Netanyahu. But Israel has not achieved anything; That is, despite the extensive support of the US, Hamas was not destroyed, Hamas was not disarmed, and no prisoners were released by force. For Netanyahu, the issue of personal survival is also important. If America stops the war today, Netanyahu will never be able to continue the war tomorrow. Therefore, with this attitude, Netanyahu tries to involve America in other fronts as well. We see that Netanyahu is trying to involve America on all fronts for his benefit.

So we warn Americans to beware of Netanyahu and the Zionists’ game. to be Because their game is the game of war.

Of course, diplomatic channels are open for exchanging messages between America and us. At the same time, Switzerland, as the guardian of America’s interests in Iran, is considered an official diplomatic channel for exchanging our messages. Exchanging these messages helps to better understand the situation. We are not looking to expand the scope of the war.

It is clear that the security of shipping and navigation in the Red Sea and the region is in our interest. An important part of our trade and (transportation of) oil is done by sea. The region will not benefit from war in the region. But the war in Gaza must stop. When I say war, I mean killing of women, children and civilians. The continuation of this genocide is not good for the so-called prestige of America. I really don’t think the White House can answer what justification can be given for the killing of fourteen thousand children and babies with the support of the United States? The support of the Israeli regime, when it is extended to the support of the Israeli genocide, has no proportion with the values ​​that the United States talks about. Unless we say that the White House is a hostage of Tel Aviv. Due to its own shipping interests, it does not want to escalate the situation in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. What measures do you take to de-stress? Have you sent or will you send a message to the Houthis to stop the attacks?

Three weeks ago, a Yemeni leader in Sanaa It was in Tehran. Mr. Abdulsalam, who is their negotiator with Saudi Arabia. First, there is a misconception among the White House and American statesmen; Some American statesmen think that the remote control of the Houthis, Hezbollah and Hamas is in our hands! They really make their own decisions. They each have their own materials and considerations. They are Arabs and Muslims; And they are taking measures to support the Palestinian Arabs and Muslims. It goes back to cultural and religious issues in our region.

To be clear: we admire their courage! That they decide to stop the Israeli genocide in Palestine in support of the Palestinian people. This decision is both costly and brave for them. The Yemenis tell us that they are committed to the safety of navigation and shipping. But, in support of the Palestinian people, they decided to stop every Israeli ship and every ship going to Israeli ports. America and England made a bad decision. While Saudi Arabia and Yemen are close to a final agreement after a decade of war, while different war fronts are still open, the United States and Britain have opened a new war front in the Red Sea and Yemen. This means the movement of America and England in the direction of development and expansion of tension. Well, Yemenis have nothing to lose. For 10 years, Saudi Arabia was in front of them with all the facilities. England also helped a lot in the war against Yemen. Therefore, we think war is not the solution. By genocide and killing children and women, Netanyahu cannot destroy Hamas and release its prisoners.

Everyone should try to stop the war! You may say that if the war ends in Gaza, will the war stop on other fronts? Two days before the recent humanitarian ceasefire, I had a meeting with Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary General of Hezbollah in Lebanon. I told them that a humanitarian ceasefire of several days is going to be established. If the ceasefire is established, will Lebanon’s attacks in support of Gaza continue? He said: “No, we will stop (it) if the attacks on Gaza stop.” In all six days of humanitarian ceasefire, not a single shot was fired by Lebanon. So the root (of all these conflicts) should be stopped and cured.

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