Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi places his hands on his heart as a gesture of respect as he leaves after a press conference in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
United Nations, United States 鈥斅營ranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Wednesday accused regional rival Saudi Arabia of betraying the Palestinians by seeking to normalize relations with Israel.
鈥淭he initiation of a relationship between the Zionist regime and any country in the region, if it is with the aim to bring security for the Zionist regime, will certainly not do so,鈥� Raisi told a news conference as he attended the UN General Assembly.
鈥淲e believe that a relationship between regional countries and the Zionist regime would be a stab in the back of the Palestinian people and of the resistance of the Palestinians,鈥� he said.
Saudi Arabia and Israel have bonded in part over shared hostility to Iran鈥檚 clerical state, although Riyadh has moved to ease tensions with Tehran through talks brokered by China.
Saudi Arabia鈥檚 de factor ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has said that US-brokered talks are moving forward on normalization with Israel.