TEHRAN- Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman on Monday criticized the removal of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution’s accounts from Instagram and Facebook, saying the move is the latest in a string of attempts to silence the critics of Israel.

Delivering remarks in response to the Tehran Times’ question during a press conference at the 24th Iran Media Exhibition, Nasser Kanaani said it has now become evident that Western politicians only bloviate about freedom of speech, without actually caring about it.

“The West cannot tolerate any narrative different from the one it’s promoting. With its control over most social media platforms, the West obstructs free speech and prevents citizens all around the world from gaining access to the truth,” Kanaani stated.

Earlier this month, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s accounts were removed from Instagram and Facebook, both of which are owned by the Meta company. A spokesperson for Meta said the action was taken as the Leader had been violating the company’s “Dangerous Organizations and Individuals policy”.

Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, Western states have been trying to tone down criticism against Israel by blocking pro-Palestinian social media accounts. Several journalists have also been fired from their jobs in the past months after calling for an end to the massacre of Palestinians online.

Countries like France and the UK have banned demonstrators from taking to the streets in support of Palestine or tried to fabricate their message by vilifying their cause.

Suella Braverman described the demonstrators taking to the streets in support of a ceasefire in Gaza as being involved in “hate marches” when she was still serving as Britain’s home secretary.

“U.S. phony claims of advocating human rights”

Kanaani also said that Israel’s U.S.-backed murderous bombardment on the Gaza Strip removed the mask from the faces of self-proclaimed human rights advocates.

He went on to point out that the Gaza conflict revealed that human rights are “nothing more than a lie” as they are promoted in the media by nations pretending to be rights supporters.

“The disaster in Gaza removed the mask from the face of the so-called advocates of human rights and showed the extent of vileness, brutality and lies hidden within the nature of the Israeli regime, whose supporters used to refer to as a symbol of democracy,” he added.

The spokesman further stated that the Israeli regime should be held accountable for its almost five months of atrocities against the oppressed Palestinian people.

The United States is the principal collaborator in Israel’s misdeeds, he added, emphasizing that the usurping entity cannot handle the Gaza conflict without Washington’s assistance.

Iran signals readiness to host OIC meeting on Gaza

Kanaani also said Tehran has voiced readiness to host a second meeting of the foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the Gaza war.

Recently, Algeria has proposed a new resolution that seeks an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza. It will be put to a vote at the UN Security Council on Tuesday.

“What is happening in Gaza is not only an obvious crime and genocide, but also a threat to international peace and security,” Kanaani stressed, adding, “The international community and bodies must stop these actions.”