Iran condemns Aqsa Mosque incursion, says Israelis seek to escalate tensions in region

Iran's Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned a recent incursion by far-right Israeli ministers and illegal settlers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied Old City of al-Quds as a provocative move aimed at escalating tensions in West Asia.

“The incursion by some ministers of the fake Israeli regime and Zionist settlers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound is a blatant desecration of Muslim sanctities, a violation of the rights of Muslims worldwide, and a provocative step meant to foment tensions and instability in the region,” spokesman Nasser Kan'ani wrote in a post published on the social media platform X on Tuesday evening.

He went on to denounce the unlawful and controversial act, calling upon the international community, particularly Muslim nations and governments, to show a strong reaction in response.

“The international community and world bodies have an objective and immediate responsibility to stop the Zionist regime’s barbaric actions, which are in violation of international rules and regulations,” the top Iranian diplomat stated.

Earlier on Tuesday, Kan'ani had stated that the Israeli settlers’ incursion into al-Aqsa Mosque was aimed at exacerbating tensions.

“This wicked move is indicative of the undeniable fact that the leaders of the Israeli regime intend to advance their warmongering policies through hurting the religious feelings of Palestinian Muslims and the Muslim world,” the spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.

Hundreds of illegal Israeli settlers, led by notorious minister Ben Gvir, storm al-Aqsa mosque

Hundreds of illegal Israeli settlers storm the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

He emphasized that the United States and certain Western countries should immediately restrain the criminal Tel Aviv regime, help end the ongoing genocide in Gaza and stop the Zionist entity’s adventurism in Palestine and elsewhere in the region if they are genuinely concerned about security and stability in West Asia.

On Tuesday morning, more than 2,200 illegal settlers forced their way into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound to commemorate Tisha B'Av, an annual Jewish fast day that marks the occurrence of several disasters in Jewish history.

Israel's far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Yitzhak Wasserlauf were among the intruders.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site for Muslims.

Far-right Israeli groups have previously called for widespread incursions into the mosque on the occasion of the Jewish Passover holiday.

Under an agreement signed between Israel and the Jordanian government in the wake of the regime’s occupation of al-Quds in 1967, non-Muslim worship at the holy compound is prohibited. But the ban is a mere phrase and, in action, circumstances have been against Muslims.

The latest intrusion into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound takes place as the regime has been keeping its bloody war machine going in the Gaza Strip since October 7 last year, with hopes of a long-awaited ceasefire agreement fading after more than ten months of barbaric onslaught on the Palestinian territory.

At least 39,929 Palestinians have been killed and 92,240 others injured as a result of the aggression imposed by the Israeli regime on the people in Gaza.

The war began in early October after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas launched an unprecedented military operation into the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories near Gaza.

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