Erdogan (right) and Raisi discussed the attacks launched by Israel on Gaza (Anatolia)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan renewed his country's position of continuing cooperation with Iran on the Palestinian issue, while Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi stressed that cutting what he described as "the vital arteries of the Zionist entity will lead to stopping its crimes."
Erdogan said during a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart in Ankara, "During our meeting, we discussed the inhumane attacks launched by Israel on Gaza, the need for an immediate end to the attacks, and we reiterated our support for the just Palestinian cause."
He added that the people of Gaza "have become victims of brutality that will go down in shame in human history. At this stage, we have all seen the true faces of those who have been teaching the world lessons about human rights and democracy for decades."
Regarding the lawsuit filed against Israel in the International Court of Justice, the Turkish President said, “We support the steps taken in international law to prevent Israel from escaping the war crimes it is committing. We will continue to work with all our might to stop the massacres, achieve a ceasefire, and pave the way for lasting peace in Region".
My president (right) twice postponed his visit to Turkey (Reuters)
Cutting ties with Israel
For his part, the Iranian president said, "It would be effective to reduce relations with the Zionist entity," and added, "During our discussions with the Turkish president, we agreed to support Palestine, support the Islamic resistance in Palestine, and realize the rights of the Palestinian people."
He added that Turkey and Iran agree to support Palestine and grant the Palestinian people their rights, and they have common views on Palestine.
He said, "The atrocities committed by the Zionist regime against the oppressed and resisting Palestinian people wounded the consciences not only of the Islamic nation, but of all the peoples of the free world."
Raisi accused the United States of supporting what he described as Israeli crimes against the Palestinians in Gaza, and repeated Tehran's call on Islamic countries to sever their economic and political relations with the "Zionist regime."
Raisi twice postponed his visit to Turkey, which was scheduled to take place last November, due to schedule problems and attacks in the city of Kerman in southeastern Iran.
Source: Al Jazeera + agencies