Supreme Leader: Iran will always support Palestinian resistance, nation

Ayatollah Khamenei stressed on Sunday that Iran will sincerely stand by the Palestinian nation and support its resistance.

The Supreme Leader made the remark here Sunday in a meeting with the visiting democratically-elected Prime Minister of Palestine Ismail Haniyeh.
Saying that support of Islamic nations for the Palestinian Islamic resistance gives depth to the activities of resistance groups, he also noted that victories gained in recent years by the Palestinian nation and even parts of Islamic awakening movement sweeping in the region are outcomes of the resistance of the Palestinian nation and groups.
Ayatollah Khamenei further warned that any act which might undermine resistance trend could tarnish the future and stressed that all should be vigilant towards penetration of liberal elements into the resistance groups.
Ayatollah Khamenei said no one doubted the sincerity of Mr. Haniyeh and his fellow combatants in continuing resistance and, pointing to the destiny of Yasser Arafat who was once a popular leader, said that Arafat lost his position with regional nations because he deviated from the path of resistance.
The Supreme Leader also said that Iran regarded the issue of Palestine as its own problem and said Tehran was steadfast in its positions to sincerely back the Palestinian nation’s resistance.
Haniyeh, for his part, said the victory anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Iran was celebrated this year at a time when the region and the whole world were facing big developments like the Islamic awakening.
Appreciating Iran’s support for Palestine, he further noted that he had witnessed the huge presence of the Iranian people in demonstrations held Saturday on the occasion, stressing that Palestine regarded the Iranian nation as a source of moral support.
He also said that liberation of all Palestinian occupied lands, continuation of resistance and rejecting of compromise and concentration on the Islamic identity of the Palestinian issue were the three basic strategies of his government.