DUBAI, Nov 22 (Reuters) – Iran reacted angrily to assertions
by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and accused him of not
understanding the realities in the region after the diplomat
accused Tehran of being responsible for the Gaza conflict.
On Wednesday Fabius accused Iran of negative intentions in
Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Gaza and that it bore a “heavy
responsibility” for the fighting for providing long-range
weapons.
Iran has denied allegations it has supplied Hamas with
Fajr-5 rockets, which the militant group that controls Gaza said
it had fired on Tel Aviv, but Iran has made clear it has
provided military aid.
“The comments made by Mr. Fabius are due to lack of
attention to the prevailing realities in the Middle East,”
foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said, the state
news agency reported late on Wednesday.
“This French official must keep in mind the point that such
comments do not lift the responsibility of the Zionist regime
and its supporters about the war crimes they have committed
against the oppressed Palestinian nation.”
On Wednesday, Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammad Ali
Jafari denied Iran had given Hamas Fajr 5 rockets and only
provided technological assistance.
Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani urged Arab states on
Wednesday to follow Iran’s example of providing military
assistance to the Palestinians.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect late on
Wednesday, bringing welcome respite after eight days of conflict
as concern grew over an imminent Israeli ground offensive into
the territory.
(Reporting by Marcus George; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
