A top military commander said a decision by Persian Gulf Arab states to brand Lebanon's resistance movement Hezbollah as a terrorist organization has been ordered by the Israeli regime and enemies of Islam.
On Wednesday, the six-nation (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council issued a statement labeling Hezbollah a terrorist organization. The bloc, comprising Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait, claimed that Hezbollah's moves in the region are against international values and moral and human principles.
Chairman of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Hassan Firouzabadi said on Sunday that the Arab bloc's blacklisting of Hezbollah as a terrorist body was a strategic mistake and a very hasty and impulsive measure that runs counter to the interests of Muslim nations, Press TV reported.
"Hezbollah is the son of the Lebanese nation," he said, adding that the movement has done a lot for the Arab country.
The Iranian commander added that the (P)GCC's move was in line with Saudi Arabia's proxy war to prepare the ground for the United States and Zionists to achieve their ominous objectives in the region.
He, however, emphasized that despite efforts by Riyadh and its regional allies, the move would fail to change Hezbollah's role in establishing a power balance in the region.
The council's decision to blacklist Hezbollah has been met with opposition and criticism.
Algeria refused to classify the movement as a terrorist organization. Palestinian resistance movement, Islamic Jihad, also praised Hezbollah as a resistance movement, which has a history of struggle against the Zionist regime as well as supporting the Palestinian cause.
Iran, Syria and Yemen have also slammed the move by Persian Gulf Arab states.
