Khamenei: Iran to defend Palestinians ‘in every possible way’

In this Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2015 photo released by an official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gestures during a meeting with commanders of paramilitary division of the elite Revolutionary Guard in Tehran. Iran’s top leader says the United States is using “money and sex” to try to infiltrate the Islamic Republic and warns Iranians not to fall into the “enemy’s trap.” (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that Iran would support the Palestinian uprising against Israel “in any way we can”.

He also rejected US accusations that a recent wave of Palestinian knife and car-ramming attacks amounted to “terrorism”.

A day earlier, US Secretary of State John Kerry, during a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, described the spate of attacks as “terrorism” that should be condemned.

Israel and the United States have long accused Iran of supplying arms to the Palestinian group Hamas, considered by Washington as a terrorist organization. Tehran says it gives only moral, financial and humanitarian support.

“We will defend the movement of the Palestinian people with all of our existence, and in any way and as long as we can,” Khamenei reportedly told a gathering of the Basij, Iran’s volunteer militia.

Khamenei criticized those who call Palestinians “terrorists” saying they were people protesting the occupation of their land. The Palestinians are also frustrated by the failure of decades of peace talks to deliver them an independent state.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during a meeting with commanders of paramilitary division of the elite Revolutionary Guard in Tehran, also said the United States is using “money and sex” to try to infiltrate the Islamic Republic and warned Iranians not to fall into the “enemy’s trap.”