Pezeshkian made the call in a phone conversation with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday as the former underscored the necessity of collective efforts by Islamic countries to prevent Israeli atrocities in Gaza.
“The atrocities committed by the Zionist regime in Gaza are unacceptable to any free human being, and I hope that Islamic countries, through active diplomacy and diplomatic pressure, will prevent the continuation of these crimes and will respond to them with cohesion, unity, and responsibility,” the Iranian president said.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has always defended the rights of the oppressed Palestinian nation, and other Islamic countries should adopt a stronger and more active stance in support of the oppressed people of Palestine and Gaza too,” he added. “Collective efforts will be very effective in confronting the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza.”
Pointing to the Israeli-imposed 12-day war on the Islamic Republic, Pezeshkian said, “We are blamed for defending the oppressed people of Palestine and their human rights, and we abhor the oppression and tyranny inflicted upon them; the arrogant powers of the world consider this wrong, and that is why they pressure us.”
Elsewhere in the conversation, Pezeshkian called for the development of cooperation and strengthening of interactions in all areas between the two countries.
Ibrahim, for his part, decried the occupying entity’s aggression against Palestinians, saying, “The Malaysian government has issued a strong statement against Israel's crimes in Gaza and is pursuing extensive diplomatic efforts to stop the genocide in Gaza. We hope that with the cooperation and assistance of other Islamic countries, we can stop these crimes.”
Underlining his government's special attention to cooperation with Iran, the Malaysian prime minister assured Pezeshkian of efforts to strengthen Kuala Lumpur-Tehran interactions, saying, “The government and people of Malaysia have special respect for the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Ibrahim also welcomed Pezeshkian’s invitation to visit Iran and expressed readiness to travel to the Islamic Republic.
Backed by the US, the Israeli regime has been ravaging the besieged Gaza Strip since Operation al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023, killing more than 60,000 Palestinians and wounding upwards of 150,000 others up to now. Most of the victims are women and children, as indiscriminate Israeli attacks target schools, mosques, and even tents that shelter displaced Palestinians.
Israel’s relentless bombardment campaign has devastated the territory and led to food shortages, famine, and acute starvation.