Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, June 4, 2014. (Credit: AFP/HO/Iranian Supreme Leader's website)
After hailing the "success" of the Saturday attack on Israeli territory, the deadliest since Israel was established 75 years ago, Tehran is seeking to organize international mobilization against Israel's retaliatory airstrikes in Gaza.
President Ibrahim Raissi has called on "Muslim and Arab countries to coordinate efforts to stop Israel's crimes."
'The Islamic Republic will attempt to secure this coordination as quickly as possible by contacting the leaders of Muslim countries," he added, according to the presidency.
Raissi also held discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Syrian President Bashar Assad Wednesday evening.
He also dispatched Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian to Iraq Thursday and Lebanon Friday, as reported by Iranian and Lebanese media.
Tehran has proposed hosting an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which aims to promote cooperation among 57 member countries.
'Sign of Defeat'
As of now, no decision has been announced regarding this proposal or other concrete initiatives in support of the Palestinians.
As a non-Arab country, Iran is not a part of major Middle Eastern organizations like the Arab League, which convened in Cairo Wednesday.
The Islamic Republic traditionally lends a religious dimension to its support for the Palestinian cause, which has become a cornerstone of its diplomacy since the 1979 revolution, alongside its desire to see the disappearance of Israel, whose existence it does not recognize.
Raïssi Thursday accused Israel of 'dropping bombs on the defenseless people of Gaza because it cannot defeat the Palestinian fighters.'
"These acts by the Zionist regime are not a sign of victory but of defeat," he added during a speech in Shiraz.
In his phone call with President Assad, he criticized 'the continued genocide of the Palestinians.'
Official Iranian media displayed images of the destruction caused by Israeli airstrikes, which have claimed more than 1,350 lives in Gaza. They did not mention the circumstances in which, according to Israeli authorities, Hamas attacks in Israel left more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, dead.
'Be cautious'
Initially cautious regarding Iran since Saturday, Western nations have increased their warnings about the potential expansion of the conflict.
US President Joe Biden declared Wednesday that he had "clearly signaled to the Iranians: be cautious."
Washington is particularly concerned about the opening of a second front on Israel's northern border with Lebanon if Hamas' ally Hezbollah decides to intervene massively.
During his conversation with Raissi, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asserted that Riyadh was "communicating with all international and regional parties to end the ongoing escalation."
This is also the objective expressed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who offered his mediation, as well as countries like Egypt, which borders Gaza.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's highest authority, Tuesday denied his country's involvement in the Hamas offensive, while reaffirming his support for it.
"Until now, we have no concrete evidence that Iran has actively supported this cowardly Hamas attack," said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Thursday. "But it is clear to us that without Iran's support in recent years, Hamas would not have been able to launch unprecedented attacks on Israeli territory."
This AFP story was translated from French.
