Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday called on Muslim nations to stop exporting food and oil to Israel over its airstrikes and military offensive in the Gaza Strip. Khamenei made the comments to students in Tehran. He had earlier praised Hamas after its Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
Quick Read
Iranian and Lebanese Responses to Gaza Conflict
- Iran’s Call for Action: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged Muslim nations to halt food and oil exports to Israel to protest its military actions in Gaza.
- Khamenei’s Statement: In a meeting with students in Tehran, Khamenei commended Hamas for its Oct. 7 attack and called for an immediate stop to Israeli bombardments in Gaza. He advocated for no economic cooperation with Israel from Islamic governments.
- Iranian Diplomatic Suggestion: Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian proposed an oil embargo against Israel, though there’s no indication of any impact on Israel’s energy supply yet.
- Lebanon’s Concern: Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati emphasized the urgency of stopping the war to prevent it from escalating and impacting Lebanon and the broader region.
- Efforts to Avoid Escalation: Mikati has been actively engaging with international governments to keep Lebanon out of the conflict, despite ongoing clashes between Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops along the Lebanon-Israel border.
- Upcoming Speech: Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is expected to address the situation soon, amidst Lebanon’s political and economic crises.
- Mikati’s Proposal: He advocates for a five-day humanitarian ceasefire for prisoner swaps and international talks aimed at establishing a permanent truce and discussing regional peace conditions.
- Historical Context: Israel and Hezbollah’s history includes a monthlong war in 2006 that ended without a clear victor. Hezbollah’s arsenal, which Israel believes includes around 150,000 precision-guided missiles, is viewed as a significant threat by Israel.
- Lebanon’s Position: Mikati condemned the Israeli strikes and called for peace, stating Lebanon’s preference for resolving conflicts without war.
The Associated Press has the story:
Iranian Leader calls for Muslim nations to stop exporting food, oil to Israel
Newslooks- TEHRAN, Iran (AP)
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday called on Muslim nations to stop exporting food and oil to Israel over its airstrikes and military offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Khamenei made the comments to students in Tehran. He had earlier praised Hamas after its Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
“What the Islamic governments should insist is an immediate halt to the crimes (the Israelis) are committing in Gaza. The bombardments should immediately stop,” Khamenei said, according to state media. “They should block the flow of oil and food to the Zionist regime. Islamic governments shouldn’t have economic cooperation with the Zionist regime.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian earlier suggested an oil embargo on Israel, though there has been no sign that energy flows to the country have been affected.
LEBANESE LEADER SAYS ‘TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE’ IN STOPPING WAR FROM ‘GOING OUT OF CONTROL’
Newslooks- BEIRUT (AP)
Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister said Wednesday that time is of the essence in stopping the Hamas-Israel war from “going out of control” and affecting Lebanon and the wider region.
Najib Mikati has been scrambling with international governments to keep Lebanon away from the war, as militants from the Hezbollah group and Israeli troops have been clashing along the tense Lebanon-Israel border since the onset of the war on Oct. 7. The clashes so far have mostly been limited to areas along the border.
Mikati’s comments come days before Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is scheduled to give his first speech since the start of the war. Lebanon is experiencing political paralysis and economic turmoil, leaving many worried about the consequences of a full-fledged war in the crisis-hit country.
He condemned both Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon and attacks in the blockaded Gaza Strip.
“A humanitarian cease-fire for five days is necessary, where there can be active international talks to secure prisoner swaps and reach a permanent truce in order to reach an agreement on the conditions for regional peace,” Mikati said before a government meeting.
Israel and Hezbollah fought a monthlong war in 2006 that ended in a draw. Israel sees Hezbollah as its most immediate threat, estimating that it has some 150,000 precision-guided missiles pointed at it.
“Enough war in Lebanon, for we are with the choice of peace,” Mikati said.
