TEHRAN – Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemned the comments made by a cabinet minister of Israeli regime advocating the annexation of the West Bank on Wednesday.

Baqaei characterized the remarks as further evidence of Israel’s “racist and expansionist agenda,” pointing to decades of aggression, displacement of Palestinians, and ongoing seizure of Palestinian land.

On Monday, Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich ordered preparations for the annexation of the occupied West Bank ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump taking office in January 2025.

In a statement, Smotrich voiced his hope that the new administration in Washington will recognize Israel’s push for “sovereignty” over the occupied territory.

Baqaei described Israel’s longstanding policies as a systematic effort to dismantle Palestinian identity and rights, noting that Israel’s approach over the last 76 years has been to establish settlements across Palestinian lands, continuously expanding Israeli-controlled territories. 

He described this process as part of a larger scheme that he said equates to a genocidal agenda aimed at eradicating the Palestinian presence, citing the brutal nature of recent escalations over the past year.

The spokesperson reminded the international community of its moral and legal obligation to prevent acts of genocide and to counter war crimes and other violations against humanity. 

In a pointed critique, he expressed disappointment with the United States and Germany, accusing them of impeding efforts to hold Israeli leaders accountable before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC). 

Baqaei called for the United Nations Security Council and global leaders to take decisive action against what he described as Israel’s acts of aggression in Palestine, as well as in Lebanon and throughout the broader West Asia region.

Baqaei further argued that an entity such as Israel, which he claims disregards international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter, undermining UN institutions and norms, should be questioned in terms of its standing within the UN framework. 

According to Baqaei, Israel’s policies are incompatible with the values and obligations expected of UN member states.

The spokesperson also emphasized that these continued pressures and crimes against Palestinians would not weaken the Palestinian people’s resolve to fight for their rights. 

He expressed confidence that Palestinians would persist in their struggle for self-determination and liberation from the shackles of military occupation and apartheid.