Iran will support any nation or group that fights Israel, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday, ahead of this week's annual observance of Quds Day to express support for Palestinians.
"We will support and assist any nation or any group anywhere who opposes and fights the Zionist regime, and we do not hesitate to say this," Khamenei said in a post on his official English-language Twitter account.
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Iran, Israel's arch-enemy in the Middle East, has been a key supporter, along with Russia, of President Bashar Assad during Syria's civil war, sending military advisers as well as material and regional Shiite militias.
We will support and assist any nation or any group anywhere who opposes and fights the Zionist regime, and we do not hesitate to say this.#FlyTheFlag
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) May 20, 2020
"Comprehensive struggles by the Palestinian nation – political, military & cultural – should continue till the usurpers submit to the referendum for the Palestinian nation. This nation should determine what political system should rule there; struggle must continue until then," he tweeted.
Israel, which monitors neighboring Syria intensively, has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Syria targeting suspected arms and troop movements by Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas that Tehran sponsors.
Separately, Khamenei said on Wednesday that Iran's enmity toward Israel was not the same as hostility toward Jewish people.
"The elimination of the government of Israel does not mean the elimination of Jews. We don't have an issue with Jewish people," Khamenei said in a post on Twitter.
In a series of tweets, Khamenei explained that, in using the term "Final Solution" in previous statements, he did not refer to Jews but rather only to the State of Israel.
Eliminating the Zionist regime doesn't mean eliminating Jews. We aren't against Jews. It means abolishing the imposed regime & Muslim, Christian & Jewish Palestinians choose their own govt & expel thugs like Netanyahu. This is "Eliminating Israel" & it will happen.#FlyTheFlag
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) May 20, 2020
"The Zionist regime has proven it won't abide by any treaty & understands no logic except force. The nature of the Zionist regime is incompatible with peace, because the Zionists seek to expand their territories & will certainly not be limited to what they have already occupied," he wrote.
"Eliminating the Zionist regime doesn't mean eliminating Jews. We aren't against Jews. It means abolishing the imposed regime & Muslim, Christian & Jewish Palestinians choose their own govt & expel thugs like Netanyahu. This is 'Eliminating Israel' & it will happen," Khamenei added.
Earlier Tuesday, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu responded to threats from Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to which his country is planning a "final solution" against Israel, saying, "Khamenei's threats to implement the 'Final Solution' against Israel are reminiscent of the Nazi "Final Solution" plan for the destruction of the Jewish people. He must know that any regime that threatens Israel with extermination will find itself in similar danger."
