TEHRAN – Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has inveighed against normalization with Israel, calling it an indication of moving backward.

Speaking at the 37th International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran on Sunday, President Raisi said liberating al-Quds is the most important question of the Islamic world.

In his speech, the president underlined the need for unity among the Islamic Ummah, saying, “The Islamic Ummah unity has always been important in the history of Islam.”

Stating that unity is taking on further importance by the day in the Muslim world, Raisi said, “Paying attention to unity is not an individual matter and a fleeting view, but a system of thought centered on the truth and centered on belief in the Quran, the Holy Prophet of Islam and his pure progeny.”

He added, “Unity does not mean the unification of religions or the geography of Muslim countries, but unity and cohesion to protect the interests of the Islamic Ummah. In the effort for unity and ecumenism, all our thinking should be aimed at preserving and promoting the interests of the Islamic Ummah.”

Praising the message of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Raisi said ignoring the words and life of the Prophet is the starting point of the humanity’s regression and backwardness. “For the Islamic Ummah, the benchmark for regression is to not follow the Messenger of God and follow infidels.  The reason for the victory of Muslims throughout history has been the unity of the Islamic Ummah centered on obedience to the Prophet and the Holy Quran.”

President Raisi said following foreigners and paying heed to their wishes is another sign of backwardness. “The arrogant powers know that the most important obstacle in front of them is the Islamic Ummah who believe in the Prophet of God, resurrection, dynamics and moving towards the divine destination,” he continued.

Also, Raisi considered attention to the freedom of al-Quds and Palestine as the most important indicator of the Islamic Ummah.

He warned, “Moving in the direction of normalizing relations with the Zionist regime [Israel] is another indicator of moving in the direction of backwardness and regression for every government and official in Islamic countries.”

President Raisi pointed out that the option of normalizing relations with Israel has been taken off the table. “Today, everyone has a common view that the way to deal with the enemy is not surrender and compromise, but resistance. The option of compromise has been removed from the table and today no concerned people in Palestine, Lebanon and other Islamic countries are talking about compromise. The choice of all Mujahideen of the Islamic world is to resist and stand against the enemy, and this choice will force the enemy to retreat,” he averred.

Raisi also said that the enemy has installed puppet regimes in some Islamic countries with the purpose of advancing normalization with the Zionist regime of Israel. “The Muslims of these nations have proven that they are people of standing, resistance, and knowing and countering the enemy.”