Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has accused the US of launching a “proxy war against Palestinians” and warned that if the shelling of Gaza continues and Israel begins the ground attack it is planning, the situation will spiral out of control.
The Iranian top diplomat said at a joint press conference with his South African counterpart Naledi Pandor in Tehran on Sunday that it was a “bitter and unfortunate reality” that US President Joe Biden made a “extraordinary wartime visit” to Tel Aviv this week to show support for the Benjamin Netanyahu government despite the bombardment of the Palestinian enclave and a lack of humanitarian aid.
“It’s a great shame that the American president announced that the US would dispatch hundreds of planes, ships and trucks filled with military equipment to the occupied territories to support the mass murder that Israel is committing in Gaza but has managed to coordinate plans for only 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid to enter the besieged enclave,” he noted.
Amir-Abdollahian called the situation in the region a “powder keg” and warned of “heavy and bitter consequences.”
“If the US and the Israeli regime do not stop their crimes against humanity immediately, there will be a possibility of anything at any moment and the region may spin out of control,” he said.
On Sunday, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin warned of “the prospect of a significant escalation.” He vowed to do all in his power to defend American personnel stationed in the region and to maintain Washington’s long-standing support for Israel.
On October 7, Israel launched airstrikes on Gaza in response to a fatal surprise attack on Israeli territory by Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups.
