Khatami surprises Tehran: We have no right to interfere in the Palestinian issue

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Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, one of the most prominent faces of the reform movement, criticized his country's interventions in the Palestinian issue, stressing that Iran does not have the right to put itself in the place of the Palestinian people or decide the path they should follow, warning of the cost that the Iranians bear as a result of these policies.

Khatami said, in a video clip published on the sidelines of a ceremony held on Tuesday, October 13, and published by the Iran International Network, that the occupation does not grant legitimacy, in reference to Israel’s force and occupation, but at the same time he stressed that the Palestinian people alone have the right to self-determination.

He added that Iran can provide moral support to those struggling for freedom, but it cannot replace those responsible for the issue or determine their options, especially in the face of a large force, warning that intervention may lead to widespread suffering, while the Palestinians may ultimately choose a different path.

The former Iranian president criticized Iranian interference in the Palestinian territories crisis, considering that it harmed the Iranian people and imposed a heavy price on them, which he said he did not accept.

Khatami's statements come at a time when Iran is facing economic and living pressures, amid internal discussions and criticism regarding foreign policy priorities, and support for groups and forces associated with what is known as the "axis of resistance."

Khatami assumed the Iranian presidency between 1997 and 2005, and is considered one of the most prominent symbols of the reform movement that called for greater political and social openness. Despite his criticism of some of the regime's trends, his speech remained within the framework of the Islamic Republic.