TEHRAN – The Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned Iran's ambassador, Abbas Bagherpour, after he posted a message on social media expressing support for Lebanese Resistance group, Hezbollah.

The message came in the wake of recent airstrikes by Hezbollah on Israel, a move seen by many as part of the broader resistance against Israeli aggression in the region.

In his post, Ambassador Bagherpour shared an image of the Hezbollah flag, accompanied by the statement, "Hezbollah will win." This expression of solidarity with the group, which is widely viewed in Iran and other nations as a legitimate Resistance movement, sparked immediate backlash from Austrian authorities.

"We strongly condemn the use of the image of the Hezbollah flag in the Iranian ambassador's message," the Austrian foreign ministry stated in response. Austria, like many other European Union countries, has designated Hezbollah in its entirety as a terrorist organization, aligning with Western policies.

Iran has long supported the struggle against Israeli occupation and has criticized the West's indifference to Israel's ongoing actions in Palestine and the broader West Asia.

The latest diplomatic move came as the world turns a blind eye to the crimes committed by the Israeli regime. 

Iran's support for Hezbollah is rooted in a broader commitment to opposing Israeli policies that have led to the suffering and displacement of countless Palestinians, a cause that resonates deeply with many across the region.

Israel waged a genocidal war on the besieged Gaza on October 7, 2023 after the Palestinian Hamas Resistance group carried out a historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for the regime’s intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

The Gaza conflict has already resulted in the deaths of over 40,476 Palestinians, primarily women and children. A Gazan health ministry statement added that some 93,647 other people have been injured in the assault.

After 10 months of war, 90 percent of Gaza’s population has been forced out of their homes with most having to relocate multiple times. They face a lack of safety, sanitation and adequate food with some even forced to shelter in cemeteries.