Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday shot down Iran’s attempts at sowing criticism toward Israel’s growing normalized status in the Middle East.
“Iran will not prevent [Israel] from further expanding the circle of peace for the benefit of Israel’s citizens, the peoples of the region, and all of humanity,” he said in a video message.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks on October 3, 2023
Earlier, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said countries seeking to normalize relations with Israel “are betting on a losing horse,” Iranian state media outlets reported.
“The definite position of the Islamic Republic is that countries that make the gamble of normalization with Israel will lose,” he was quoted as saying.
A framework US-brokered deal for forging relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia could be in place by early next year, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said last month after the three countries signaled progress in the negotiations.
The week before the opening session of the UN General Assembly last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saudi Arabia had informed the Biden administration that resolving Palestinian issues was critical for any normalization deal with Israel.
The Zionist regime is dying.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) October 3, 2023
A normalization would dramatically redraw the Middle East by formally bringing together two major US partners in the face of Iran – a foreign-policy flourish for President Joe Biden as he seeks reelection in late 2024.
A different post by Khamenei on X, formerly Twitter, read: “The Zionist regime is dying... the usurper regime is coming to an end. Today, the Palestinian youth, the anti-oppression, anti-occupation movement in Palestine is more energetic, more alive, and more prepared than ever during the past 70 or 80 years. God willing the movement will achieve its goals.
“Imam Khomeini once described the usurper Zionist regime as a cancer. This cancer will definitely be eradicated at the hands of the Palestinian people.”
Imam Khomeini once described the usurper Zionist regime as a cancer. This cancer will definitely be eradicated at the hands of the Palestinian people.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) October 3, 2023
Israel's defense minister responds to Khamenei's posts
In response, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant wrote: “The murderous terror regime in Iran has already succeeded in dissolving several countries it has taken over. Now it is trying to sabotage peace efforts with idle threats.”
משטר הטרור הרצחני באיראן הצליח כבר לפורר כמה מדינות עליהן השתלט, עכשיו הוא מנסה לחבל במאמצי השלום באיומי סרק. איראן תמשיך לפעול להפצת טרור והרס, ישראל - להשגת ביטחון לאזרחיה ושלום במזרח התיכון.
— יואב גלנט - Yoav Gallant (@yoavgallant) October 3, 2023
“Iran will continue to act to spread terror and destruction,” he wrote. “Israel [will continue] to achieve security for its citizens and peace in the Middle East.”