Iran ‘greatest and most steadfast’ supporter of resistance in world: Parliament speaker

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has lauded the epic turnout of Iranian people in International Quds Day rallies on the last Friday of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, saying Iran is the greatest and most steadfast supporter of the resistance in the world.

Qalibaf made the remark in an address at the onset of a plenary session in the Iranian legislature on Sunday, after millions of Iranians from various social strata thronged the streets across the country to voice their solidarity with the Palestinian cause and condemn the occupying regime’s decades-long crimes against Palestinians in the occupied territories on International Quds Day.

“The epic presence of the Iranian people in the march on Friday undoubtedly marked one of the most influential and magnificent Quds Days in recent years, and the historic initiative of the great founder of the Islamic Revolution and the true model of resistance against tyranny and domination, Imam Khomeini, who was the founder of the splendid march, is a source of encouragement for all on the path of liberating al-Quds every year,” Qalibaf said.

The parliament speaker added that the Iranian people “shined in a special and historic way” in this year’s event and shook the back of the Zionist enemy throughout the country from big cities to small villages.

“Islamic Iran today, with the support of this brave and wise nation and under the guidance of the wise and visionary Leader of the Islamic Revolution, is the greatest and most steadfast supporter of the resistance around the world,” Qalibaf noted.

Iranians mark International Quds Day

Millions of Iranians have held rallies countrywide to mark International Quds day.

The last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan was declared as Quds Day by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic, more than forty years ago.

The worldwide rallies are held to support the Palestinian people’s resistance against Israel and the struggle to liberate their territories which have been occupied since 1967.

Viewed as the epitome of Muslims’ vigilance against Israeli atrocities, the annual event is an opportunity for freedom-seeking people across the world, regardless of faith, to voice their support for the Palestinian cause and vent their indignation at the occupying regime.

This year's Quds day was marked as Muslims are infuriated by Israel's fresh spate of raids on Palestinian worshipers at the al-Aqsa mosque compound in the occupied Old City of al-Quds.

Since the start of the holy month of Ramadan, Israel has imposed strict restrictions on the entry and exit of Palestinians to and from the gates of al-Aqsa Mosque. Amid heightened tensions with Palestinian worshipers, Israeli settlers also went ahead with their frequent incursions and provocative rituals at the holy site.

The resistance movements in Gaza and elsewhere have vowed to confront the Israeli regime on multiple fronts.

GCC strongly condemns Israeli desecration of al-Aqsa, raids on worshipers

The Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) strongly condemns the Israeli desecration of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound and violent raids on Palestinian worshipers.

On April 6, at least 30 rockets were reportedly launched from southern Lebanon into the Israeli-occupied territories in retaliation for the Israeli aggression against al-Aqsa. Resistance fighters based in Gaza also fired several rockets toward the occupied territories.

Palestinian sources said Israel's Iron Dome failed to intercept most of the rockets. Following the retaliatory attack, Israeli warplanes hit targets inside Gaza and positions of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas in Lebanon.

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