TEHRAN, November 22. /TASS/. The international community should deprive Iran of its nuclear weapons, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said during his visit to Lebanon.
"Following the six weeks of crimes committed [by Israel] against the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, it is the international community’s duty to deprive this entity (Israel - TASS) of nuclear weapons," the Iranian foreign minister said, as quoted by the Al Mayadeen television channel broadcasting from Beirut.
According to Amir-Abdollahian, "it is necessary to establish an international tribunal in order to bring to justice those responsible for crimes in this war."
Amir-Abdollahian said that "the UN Security Council has not been able to adopt a decision on setting up a committee to establish the facts of crimes in the Gaza Strip." The Iranian foreign minister opined that Israel "understands only the language of force," adding that "occupation is not a permanent phenomenon in history."
Tensions flared up in the Middle East after Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip attacked Israeli territory on October 7. Hamas views its attack as a response to Israeli authorities’ steps against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and launched bombardments of the enclave and some areas in Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also reported in the West Bank.
On the night of November 22, Hamas and Israel announced an agreement, which was brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, on a four-day humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip for the release of some detainees. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said that the ceasefire would be declared within the next 24 hours.