Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi yesterday criticised “normalisation and surrender” to Israel, saying the only approach that must be adopted with Tel Aviv is “resistance”.

Speaking at the opening of the International Conference for Islamic Unity in Tehran, Raisi said “normalising relations with the Zionist regime is a backward act for every government in the Islamic world,” IRNA news agency reported.

“Adopting the option of resistance in confronting the enemy has proven to be extremely successful, and has eliminated the option of surrender and compromise, forcing the enemy to retreat and be defeated,” he said, pointing out that “the common vision today is steadfastness and resistance in the face of enemies, not normalisation and surrender.”

The Islamic Republic, Israel’s arch regional enemy, has repeatedly criticised the normalisation agreements concluded by the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco in 2020.

Washington has been holding marathon discussions with both Saudi Arabia and Israel with the aim of normalising relations between them. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has confirmed that the kingdom is “close” to concluding an agreement with Tel Aviv.

In September, Raisi said that normalising relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel would be a “stab in the back” for Palestinians.

In April, regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia concluded an agreement brokered by China to restore relations between them, after seven years of interruption.

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