Senior Iranian and Russian diplomats have expressed serious concern over the brutal Israeli onslaught against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, calling for an end to the horrendous crimes being perpetrated by the Tel Aviv regime in the besieged coastal territory.
Ali Asghar Khaji, a senior aide on political affairs to Iran's foreign minister and the visiting Russian Special Presidential Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev exchanged viewpoints about unfolding developments in the West Asia region during a meeting in the Iranian capital city of Tehran on Wednesday.
The two sides discussed Israeli crimes against the oppressed people of Gaza, and voiced their deep concern over the brutal killing of civilians.
They also demanded an immediate end to Israel's vicious attacks, a ceasefire as well as dispatch of international humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Khaji blamed the United States’ generous support for Israel as the main reason behind assaults against the residents of the Gaza Strip and massacre of thousands of women and children, saying, “Such crimes can be best described as collective punishment and genocide.”
The two senior diplomats went on to exchange opinions about the latest developments in Syria, including the most recent political status quo, as well as initiatives by Tehran and Moscow to help improve the economic and humanitarian situation in the country and advance political process in the war-battered Arab nation.
Lavrentiev also held separate meetings with Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali-Akbar Ahmadian, and delivered Russian President Vladimir Putin’s message to his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raeisi.
Israel waged a genocidal war on the blockaded Gaza Strip on October 7 after Palestinian resistance groups carried out Operation al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity.
Since the start of the aggression, the regime has been committing war crimes in Gaza, killing at least 8,796 people, including 3,648 children and 2,290 women, according to officials.
Around 2,000 people are still missing, including 1,100 children. The vast majority of these people are believed to be dead and buried under rubble. At least 22,219 people have been wounded.
Israel has also imposed a “complete siege” on the territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.