Defending Palestinians, human & moral obligation

Speaking at the 19th session of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC) in Jakarta, Indonesia, Qalibaf condemned Trump’s anti-Iran remarks made the night before.

He slammed US President Donald Trump's recent statements as “delusional”, urging him to recognize the popular support for resistance across the Islamic world.

“The US President is delusional,” Qalibaf said. “We advise him to open his eyes and see the clear reality — the place of resistance is in the hearts of the people.”

The Iranian speaker, addressing representatives of Muslim-majority nations, reaffirmed Iran’s support for the Palestinian cause.

He described the ongoing situation in Gaza as a "full-fledged genocide" carried out by the Israeli regime, which is deliberately targeting civilians, cutting off humanitarian aid, and employing brutal tactics like starvation and forced displacements.

"The world knows that all (Israeli) actions constitute crimes against humanity, but the responses have not been deterrent or proportionate. This regime, founded on occupation, genocide, and racial discrimination, is now the most significant source of instability and threat to the Islamic world,” he said, adding that these actions would not be possible without US support, describing the Israeli regime as “America’s proxy force in the region.”

Qalibaf thanked global populations, particularly in Muslim-majority countries, who stood with the Palestinians.

“Defending the rights of the Palestinian people is a human, moral, and religious obligation toward a population that, like all others, has the right to live in security, freedom, and stability,” he said.

He urged Islamic governments to take “immediate and effective” action by engaging in practical cooperation to force the Zionist regime to halt its deliberate genocide.

He called on the international community to cut all political, economic, and military ties with Israel and formally recognize Israel’s actions as war crimes, genocide, and apartheid, and to pursue prosecution of its leaders.

The Iranian speaker reiterated Iran’s support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with al-Quds as its capital.

He said the only legitimate path forward is to conduct a referendum among all Palestinians, including the refugees in other countries, to determine their political future.

“The root of unrest in West Asia lies in the US regime’s support for the Zionist mafia. In response to this occupation and brutality, the region’s people have turned to resistance,” Qalibaf said.

He praised Palestinian and Lebanese public support for resistance movements, citing recent polls and election results in favor of resistance groups.

He dismissed the US president’s remarks over Iran’s domestic affairs and said Trump should instead focus on his declining approval ratings.

He reminded delegates of past US actions against Iran, including the 1953 coup, support for Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq War, the downing of an Iranian passenger plane, and the assassination of Lt. Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

Despite sanctions and maximum pressure, Qalibaf said, Iran has grown stronger and expanded the influence of its resistance message, even reaching US university campuses, forcing them to expel students and cut academic funding.

He rejected US accusations that Iran seeks nuclear weapons, stressing that regional security should be built through intra-regional cooperation free from foreign intervention.

“Iran does not seek war, but it will never surrender,” he said.

“We are brothers with our neighbors and oppose American efforts to sow division in the region to boost arms sales,” Qalibaf said, adding that it is universally known that Iran has not sought and does not seek nuclear weapons.

Qalibaf concluded by thanking the Indonesian parliament and organizers for hosting the event.