TEHRAN, IRAN (ANS) — Iran’s Supreme Ruler Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed on Monday that Arab states normalizing ties and relations with Israel ‘violate the Quran.’
According to Middle East ministry Behold Israel, Khamenei made the remarks while speaking at the 36th International Holy Quran Recitation Competition in Tehran where he criticized Arab leadership for not being “firm against disbelievers,” referring to both the Zionists and the United States.
Khamenei quoted the Quran, criticizing Arab normalization with Israel, claiming “instead of being firm against disbelievers, they are servants and followers of the US and Zionists.”
Khamenei stated: “Many deviations, misunderstandings, feelings of disappointment, betrayals, hostilities and submissions to false deities are caused by staying away from the Quran and the spirituality and knowledge gained from it.”
He charged that, in reference to states like Saudi Arabia and Egypt, “Unfortunately, some heads of Islamic countries do not follow Quranic instructions, and instead of being firm against disbelievers, they are servants and followers of the US and Zionists. They pave the way for divisions and wars, like the wars in Yemen and Syria, and the massacre of Muslims.”
He went on to quote the Quran and claimed, “The Quran says ‘Be stern with the disbelievers.’ Some of us Muslims forget that, like those in Muslim countries who compromise with the United States and Zionists, shedding the blood of Palestinians and violating their rights. Today, many heads of Arab countries are like that.”
Behold Israel said Khamenei’s claims follow Israel’s recent airstrikes in Syria on an Iranian missile factory where Iranian casualties were reported last weekend.
Behold Israel said satellite imagery confirmed the site was destroyed and was a surface-to-surface missile factory working to “improve the accuracy of missiles.”
Behold Israel said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) refused to comment on the events, but reports claimed Israel may have used the new supersonic “Rampage” air-to-surface missiles in the strikes for the first time.
The missiles are capable of evading the Russian-made S-300 missile defense system, which Syria has deployed around many of its bases. The Rampage is a long-range, air-to-ground assault missile that uses advanced navigation for faster (around 140 kilometers per hour) strikes on fixed and time-critical targets. It can be deployed from F-15, F-16 and F-35 fighter jets.
Behold Israel said Iran has taken to accusing Israel and the United States on an “economic war” on the Islamic Republic as the Trump Administration’s sanctions continue to increase and cripple the country’s economy.
