TEHRAN- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian warned on Thursday that Israel’s plans to carry out a long-awaited all-out military offensive against Rafah, which is home to 1.5 million displaced Palestinians, would result in another human disaster in the region.

Amir Abdollahian made these the remarks in a phone conversation with Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres.

“In continuation of the policy of terror and genocide, the Zionist regime is now trying to cause another human disaster in the region by closing the Rafah and Karem Abu Salim border crossings,” Amir Abdollahian added. 

He went on to say that Israel wants to make it impossible for anyone on the outside to settle the conflict.

He underlined that the U.S. has to put pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar.

Otherwise, the top Iranian diplomat warned, there would be dire consequences for those who support the war if the U.S. allows the Israeli regime to continue committing atrocities in Rafah.

“Now it is the White House that must choose between showing the will to put pressure on the Israeli regime to stop the war and dragging the region into a new and different level of crisis and tension,” Abdollahian pointed out.

Amir Abdollahian praised the UN chief's efforts to put a stop to Israel’s war and the slaughter in Gaza at other points in his remarks. 

He declared that Iran will keep working to put a stop to Israel’s war crimes in the Gaza Strip and contribute to the establishment of long-term security and stability in the region. 

The UN should take a more active role in putting an end to the conflict and arrange a meeting in front of powerful nations to explore potential measures to assist Palestine, the Iranian foreign minister said, endorsing Hamas’s decision to accept the proposed truce proposal.

For his part, Guterres applauded Iran’s sensible actions and stances toward bringing about security and peace in the region. 

He stated that the UN has always taken a strong stand on the necessity of bringing an immediate stop to the conflict in Gaza and establishing a ceasefire.

In order to bring an immediate truce to the conflict raging in Gaza and the surrounding area, he said, the UN would keep up its pressure on Israel and maintain ongoing talks with the U.S. and other powerful nations.

The head of the UN reaffirmed that the body will keep working to open the Rafah and other border crossings as soon as possible. 

Referring to his ongoing discussions with high-ranking officials in Egypt, Qatar, and Jordan, Guterres urged all sides to concentrate their efforts on finding solutions to end the conflict and carnage in Gaza.

On Tuesday, Israeli troops took control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, a vital lifeline for aid to enter the territory. Israeli officials said it was the first step towards a full-scale assault on Rafah.

“Europe needs to speak up for justice in Palestine issue”

In another post on X on Thursday, Amir Abdollahian called on European nations to speak out in favor of justice for the Palestinian people, citing the matter as a crucial test for the validity of the principles that Europe professes to uphold. 

“On this special day all who worked for peace and prosperity for Europe should be mindful on the peace and security all over the world,” Amir Abdollahian wrote.

He made reference to the ongoing crimes committed by Israel in Gaza, emphasizing that the situation there is “heavy on the conscience of humanity” and represents a “crucial test for the legitimacy of values namely human rights and dignity” that Europeans so proudly claim to be fighting for.

The Iranian foreign minister said, “Europe must raise its voice for justice on the issue of Palestine.”

Amir Abdollahian further noted that Iran “stands ready” to continue to work and engage with Europe “based on respect, constructive dialogue, cooperation for mutual interests,” as well as peace and security in the world.

The statements coincide with ongoing demonstrations in support of Palestine taking place at other European campuses.