Eurasia Press & News
Tehran said that expansion of relations with the Arab countries underpins its foreign policy. The Damascus-based daily Al-Watan on Thursday quoted Mohammad Reza Baqeri, deputy foreign minister for Arab and Africa affairs, as saying that high-ranking Iranian officials have had constant negotiations with their Arab counterparts, adding that Tehran is the hub of visits by Arab leaders and officials.
The deputy minister noted that Iran and Syria enjoy special ties and that officials of the two brotherly countries are making all efforts to strengthen relations in different fields.
Baqeri, who used to serve as Iran’s ambassador to Syria, condemned the air assault of the ‘Zionist’ Israeli regime on Syrian territory.
Elsewhere in his remarks, he said the International Qods Day is the symbol of solidarity among Muslims and Arabs with the lofty goals of Palestinians.
He noted that announcing the last Friday of the fasting month of Ramadan as the International Qods Day by the late Imam Khomeini is a starting point for the oppressed Palestinian nation.
Baqeri also called on Muslim nations to mobilize efforts to confront plots hatched by the world arrogant powers and support the resistance of Palestinians for the liberation of Beit-ul-Muqaddas (Jerusalem).
Around 28 years ago the Late Founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, declared the last Friday of the fasting month of Ramadan to be “the International Qods Day”, a day to call for the liberation of Qods (Jerusalem) from Israeli occupation.
Jerusalem, or Qods in Arabic, had been the first Kiblah of Muslims before Mecca in Saudi Arabia, and thus, it is the holiest place for Muslims after Mecca.
