The secretary general of Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement has extended his condolences over a terrorist attack on a holy shrine in southern Iran, saying those fanning the flames of recent riots in the Islamic Republic are responsible for the horrendous attack that killed at least 15 people.
Speaking in a televised speech broadcast live from Lebanon's capital city of Beirut on Thursday evening, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah offered his condolences to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei as well as the Iranian nation, government and the families of the victims of the terror attack at the Shah Cheragh shrine in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz.
“Those who have been directing the recent unrest in Iran are the ones that dispatched assailants to Shiraz to kill innocent people,” Nasrallah said.
He noted that the terrible crime in Shiraz, for which the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group has claimed responsibility, further exposed the true nature of the extremists and the criminal ideology being backed by the United States.
“Daesh is currently tasked with pursuing the US administration’s interests in Afghanistan, targeting Afghan people, and carrying out attacks against Iran and other neighboring countries,” he said.
The Hezbollah chief said, “Washington is leading a criminal operations command center. It is making use of its pawns in order to fan the flames of recent riots in Iran, and target civilians in Shiraz and other parts of the country.”
Lebanon's deal with Israel must not be viewed as normalization
Elsewhere in his remarks, Nasrallah pointed to the US-mediated deal between Lebanon and Israel, which sets their disputed maritime border in the Mediterranean Sea and opens up the possibility for both sides to conduct offshore energy exploration.
He called the agreement a “very big victory for Lebanon and its people and resistance.”
“Our mission is complete,” Nasrallah said, emphasizing that the deal “is not an international treaty and must not be viewed as recognition of Israel.”
“Israel received no security guarantees,” the Hezbollah leader further stressed.
Also in his remarks, Nasrallah paid homage to 22-year-old Palestinian Uday Tamimi, who was accused of shooting dead an Israeli soldier at a checkpoint at the entrance to the Shuafat refugee camp in occupied East al-Quds on 8 October. Tamimi, who had been sought by Israeli forces for 11 days, was killed on Wednesday.
The Hezbollah chief said Tamimi has turned into a role model for Palestinian youths.
“The unfolding developments in Palestine indicate a new and promising course of events that will draw new equations,” he highlighted.
Nasrallah also saluted members of the Palestinian resistance groups Lions’ Den and Jenin Battalion, stating that the brave fighters have dealt stinging blows to the Israeli regime despite their small numbers and limited resources.
At least 180 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the illegally occupied West Bank and besieged Gaza Strip since the beginning of the year, including 51 Palestinians during Israel’s three-day assault on Gaza in August, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Local and international rights groups have condemned Israel’s excessive use of force and “shoot-to-kill policy” against Palestinians.