Naveed Ahmad Khan
Islamabad : Dr. Reza Amiri Moghaddam, the Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan, sharply criticized the United States and Israel while addressing a gathering in Islamabad marking the International Quds Day.
Prominent religious leaders and intellectuals from various schools of thought participated and expressed their views. A large number of peoples of different walks of life ,Diplomats and media persons also attended the event.This was an important event in the context of the recent Iran-US-Israel conflict.
Speaking at a ceremony hosted by the Iranian Embassy, Dr.Moghaddam told diplomats, officials and members of the community that Iran has faced sustained aggression by global powers, naming the United States and Israel as its principal adversaries.
The Iranian envoy said the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan was designated as International Quds Day at the initiative of Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic.
According to the ambassador, the day represents a unified protest by the Muslim world and supporters of Palestine against what he described as the “usurpation of the historical land of Palestine” and the creation of Israel in the region.
“Quds Day is a symbol of the unified protest of the Islamic world and freedom-seekers of the world,” Moghadam said, adding that it reflects global opposition to what he called violations of the Palestinian people’s right to determine their own future.
In remarks reflecting the official position of Iran’s Foreign Ministry, the ambassador accused Israel of committing serious crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories.
He alleged that the ongoing violence in Gaza Strip and the treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank represent the continuation of policies aimed at eliminating Palestinian presence in the region.
Moghadam also criticized what he described as a coordinated media campaign designed to “distort reality” and shift global perception of the conflict. According to him, such narratives attempt to portray Israel as a victim while overlooking the suffering of Palestinians.
The ambassador further said that Iran is currently defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity against what he termed “military aggression” by Israel and the United States. He warned that such actions threaten not only Iran but the broader region and the Islamic world.
Referring to the wider Middle East, Moghadam argued that regional tensions are linked to what he called expansionist ambitions, including the concept of “Greater Israel,” which he said would face resistance from Iran and its allies.
Reiterating Tehran’s stance on the Palestinian issue, the envoy said Iran would continue to support what it described as the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people for self-determination.
He emphasized that the international community has a moral and legal responsibility under international law and the United Nations Charter to support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
International Quds Day is marked annually in Iran and several other countries on the final Friday of Ramadan, with rallies and events expressing solidarity with Palestinians and opposition to Israeli control over Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories.
