Iran’s President Rouhani urges Muslim unity against US, Israel

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called on Muslim nations to unite and stand against hostile policies of the US and Israel.

Rouhani told an annual international conference on Islamic unity in Tehran Saturday that Muslims have no way but to remain united in order to achieve victory over the US and fight its blatant oppression.

"Today, the Muslim world is alone and Muslims should join hands. Relying on outsiders is the biggest historical mistake," he told more than 350 Muslim politicians and scholars from 100 countries attending the conference.

"Today, there is no way for Muslims except unity and solidarity and if we unite, we can undoubtedly score a victory against the Zionists and the Americans," he added.

Rouhani said unity and brotherhood among Islamic countries must be assumed as a duty. Unity, however, cannot be achieved with words and requires collective action, the president said.

The 32nd International Islamic Unity Conference began in the Iranian capital under the motto "Quds, axis of unity among Ummah."

The event is held annually on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) in a bid to lay the ground for stronger solidarity among Muslims and provide appropriate solutions to their problems.

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Rouhani said the people of Iran consider the Saudi people as their brother. "We do consider you as a brother," he said. "We do consider the people of Mecca and Medina our brothers," he added, referring to Islam's two holiest cities, in Saudi Arabia.

He said Tehran is ready to defend the Saudi nation's interests against terrorism without expecting anything in return.

"We are ready to defend the interests of the Saudi people against terrorism, aggressors and superpowers with all our might, like we helped the people of Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Yemen," he said. 

"We do not ask $450 billion for it and will not insult you," Rouhani said, referring to US military deals during President Donald Trump's first foreign visit to Saudi Arabia and his unflattering remarks about the kingdom.

"You gifted them $450 billion to guarantee your security; you purchased $110 billion worth of weapons. You were told you were a milk cow which had to be milked. They told you without them you would not last two weeks."  

During his election campaign in Maryland in 2016, Trump openly called Saudi Arabia a “milk cow” that should be milked to the last drop and when its milk was over, it should be beheaded.

In October, the US president made another undiplomatic remark about Saudi Arabia, saying he warned King Salman he would not last in power “for two weeks” without the backing of the US military.

“We protect Saudi Arabia. Would you say they’re rich. And I love the King, King Salman. But I said ‘King - we’re protecting you - you might not be there for two weeks without us - you have to pay for your military,’” Trump said to cheers at a rally in Southaven, Mississippi.

Trump chose Saudi Arabia as the first destination of his first foreign tour as the president of the US and during the visit, he signed military deals worth $350 billion over 10 years, plus $110 billion to take effect immediately. 

Rouhani also called Israel a "cancerous tumor" and a "fake regime" established by Western countries to advance their interests in the Middle East.

"One of the ominous results of World War II was the formation of a cancerous tumor in the region," he said.

Rouhani said the United States cultivates close ties with "regional Muslim nations" to protect Israel, an apparent reference to Saudi Arabia and the kingdom's allies. He said bowing to American pressure amounts to "treason."

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