“Hamas assumed the reins of government throughout a democratic election. Israel currently is trying to entirely cut off Hamas, the legitimate Palestinian Government, from the outside world and get rid of it, which is considered as a wrong action in a Western democratic view. Israel insists that Iran is developing nuclear weapons and threatening it with a long-range missile. However, Iran is trying to just conserve and keep itself but no preemptive strike on Israel. If it is wrong for Iran to carry arms, what about over 200 nuclear weapons belonged to Israel?”
Mohammad Reza Bakhtiari, Iranian Ambassador to Korea, issued a strong charge of Israel’s attack to the Gaza Strip.
In response to the question about nuclear threats suggested from the West, Ambassador Bakhtiari asked back, “We are bearing arms just for conserving ourselves but not for attacking other countries. We are really wondering about over 200 nuclear weapons belonged to Israel.”
Ambassador Bakhtiari pointed out that Iran’s conflict with Israel had not started in recent days, but continued from 60 years ago when Israel had occupied Palestine and expelled Palestinians from their home.
“We should never forget the criminal act of Israel to Palestinians in their homeland where they had lived for thousands of years,” Ambassador Bakhtiari said.
“Hamas assumed the reins of government throughout the democratic election in 2006. Israel currently is trying to entirely cut off Hamas, the legitimate Palestinian Government, from the outside world and get rid of it,” Ambassador Bakhtiari blamed on Israel's attack.
Ambassador Bakhtiari said, “Israel’s attack to the Gaza Strip is also considered as a criminal act in a Western democratic view. Israel is continuing to block the Gaza Strip by cutting off provision of things indispensable to life for Palestinians.”
“More than 1.5 million Palestinians are hovering between life and death with suffering from a lack of things indispensable to life in the Gaza Strip,” he added.
Ambassador Bakhtiari insisted, “Israel should take criticism on its outrageous action to people not keeping themselves properly.”
Interviewer: Min Taesung
Edited by Yoo Heesuk
Translated by Jung Eunsun
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