US decision on Jerusalem will accelerate Israel’s destruction: Iran

Tehran: Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami has said US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel will accelerate the Jewish state’s destruction.

Hatami on Monday said Trump’s decision to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem meant that Washington would be to blame for any future conflict in the Middle East, Efe news reported citing state-run news agency IRNA.

“The US measure will double the unity among Muslims and also precipitate the collapse of the Zionist regime,” Hatami said, adding that Tehran condemned the unilateral actions taken by the US and Israel.

The Chief of Staff of Iran’s armed forces, Mohammad Bagheri, warned that Trump’s decision was the prelude to a great uprising against Israel, a move that some Palestinian groups have urged.

Iran supports the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and other groups in the region, such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah, that have fought Israel.

—IANS