Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei outlined solutions to challenges facing the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue and the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
Ayatollah Khamenei made the statement in a meeting with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, other Foreign Ministry officials and ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions to foreign countries and international organizations in Tehran on Sunday, IRNA reported.
The Leader said the solution to the lingering Syria crisis is holding an election.
“To this end, all financial and military assistance to opposition groups has to be cut off, and fighting and unrest need to come to an end so that the Syrian people will be able to elect whoever they favor in a calm and secure climate.”
On international efforts to resolve the four-year conflict, Ayatollah Khamenei said, "We maintain it is meaningless that other countries come together and make a decision about the ruling system of another country and its head of state. It is a dangerous precedent, to which no country accepts to be subjected."
On the Palestinian issue, the Leader said Iran is opposed to the occupying Zionist regime and strongly denounce the atrocities it perpetrates against Palestinians on a daily basis.
He said the Islamic Republic has proposed that an election involving all Palestinians be held to elect a government.
"Any government, which will be formed by the people's vote, will determine the fate of the Zionists and residents of the occupied territories."
Unworkable Plan
On the political situation in Iraq, Ayatollah Khamenei stated that Tehran backs national unity, territorial integrity and the people's role in the neighboring country.
"The partition of the country into Shia, Sunni and Kurdish regions is unworkable, meaningless and unacceptable, and would run counter to the people's interests."
The Leader also called for an immediate end to "Saudi atrocities" against Yemenis and establishment of national dialogue to help defuse the political crisis gripping the impoverished Arab country.
Pointing to protests against the monarchy in Bahrain, he said the people of the Persian Gulf state only seek to secure their right to vote to elect their government and "we believe that it is a rational demand."
The Leader said the main reason behind insecurity in the region is the support by the United States for the Zionist regime and terrorist groups, emphasizing that "such policies are 180 degrees opposed to those of the Islamic Republic."
Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated his opposition to talks with the United States on the region, noting that "the Americans only seek to meet their interests rather than solve problems."
In addition, he said continued efforts to develop ties with neighbors, Muslim countries and African states should be high on the foreign policy agenda.
