TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has emphasized that peace and security in the region can only be achieved by ending the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and restoring the Palestinian people’s fundamental rights, including the right to self-determination.

Araqchi made these remarks during the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Ministerial Committee on Palestine held in New York on Thursday.

The Iranian diplomat condemned the escalating violence against Palestinians, particularly the increasing human rights violations inflicted by the Israeli regime over the past year. 

Araqchi noted with deep concern that the death toll in Gaza has reached nearly 42,000, with 70 percent of the victims being innocent children and women. He further highlighted that despite efforts to suppress Palestinian Resistance movements like Hamas, these attempts have failed, as the desire for liberation remains strong among the Palestinian people.

Araqchi also addressed the worsening situation in Lebanon, condemning Israeli airstrikes that have violated Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He stressed that these actions endanger the lives of innocent civilians and have further destabilized the region.

During his address, the foreign minister urged the NAM Ministerial Committee to take a more active role in supporting the Palestinian cause. He called for concrete actions, including an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, lifting the ongoing blockade on Gaza, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Araqchi proposed a referendum as a democratic solution for determining the future of Palestine. He suggested that all Palestinian people, whether residing in their homeland or living abroad, should participate in deciding their future through this process. According to the Iranian diplomat, such a referendum could lead to a lasting peace where Muslims, Christians, and Jews can coexist peacefully.

The call for peace through diplomacy, combined with a focus on Palestinian self-determination, marks Iran's continued commitment to addressing the decades-long conflict and highlights the urgency for international bodies like the NAM to play a more assertive role in resolving the crisis.

The NAM Palestine Committee is one of the NAM Working Groups which includes Indonesia, Algeria, Iran, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malaysia, Cuba, India, Venezuela, Egypt and Senegal.

NAM consists of 121 countries that are not formally allied with one particular great power bloc.