Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf made the remarks at a meeting with Pakistani religious scholars, university professors, and political, cultural and social leaders at the Iranian embassy in Islamabad on Friday.
He denounced America’s dual policy toward the Islamic world, warning that the United States is attacking and occupying Islamic countries on the one hand, and on the other hand trying to normalize relations with the Zionist regime by promoting the “Abraham Accords.”
“No Islamic state should be allowed to establish relations with the enemies of Islam and Muslims. Whether it is ‘imposition of peace’ or ‘imposition of war,’ the result will be nothing less than the weakening and dependence of Islamic countries, and will hinder the independence and empowerment of the Islamic world,” he stressed.
The speakers referred to Operation Al-Aqsa Storm and Iran’s successful resistance to the Zionist regime’s attacks, pointing out that the unity of the Islamic world and the strengthening of scientific and defensive capabilities are the only ways to confront the arrogant conspiracy.
He also appreciated Pakistan’s supportive stance towards Iran during the 12-day US-Israel invasion in June and stressed the need to form a united Islamic front against the enemy.
On June 13, Israel launched an unprovoked invasion of Iran, sparking a 12-day war that left at least 1,064 people dead in the country, including military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians. The United States also entered the war by bombing three Iranian nuclear facilities in a serious violation of international law.
On June 24, Iran successfully thwarted a terrorist attack through successful retaliatory operations against both the Israeli regime and the United States.
Ghalibaf elaborated on Iran’s legitimate response to the invasion, noting that it was the US intervention that “rescued” Israel.
“The United States controlled and revived the command center with its advisors and commanders,” he said, noting that Iranian missiles hit from about 2,000 kilometers away and destroyed Israeli targets on a large scale.
Without U.S. support, the regime would have suffered a “heavy defeat within seven days,” he added.
Ghalibaf reiterated his call for unity across the Muslim world, adding that if the Islamic State were attacked by Israel, “all Muslims must confront it.”
He called on Muslim countries to act in solidarity. “We must create the conditions to destroy this system by drawing closer to each other,” he added.
He pointed out that “with the support of the United States, the Zionist regime is trying to inflict damage on the Islamic world and is currently bombing Lebanon, Syria and other Islamic countries.”
“If they go to war against Iran, they will try to prevent Iran from becoming independent and powerful. They want a weak Iran in order to destroy Iran. We see the same situation in Syria, Libya and Lebanon,” he added.
Ghalibaf called for increased cooperation in science, technology and education, adding that Islamic countries must become independent and strong in many fields, especially high-tech, to compensate for centuries of backwardness.
Ghalibaf left for Islamabad on Wednesday morning with a parliamentary delegation at the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart Ayaz Sadiq.
MNA/IRN