Iran's leader calls on Hamas to continue resistance against Israel

Tehran - Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called on the Palestinian militant group Hamas Tuesday to continue resistance against Israel as the only way to save Palestine, state media reported. "The only way to save Palestine is resistance and victory belongs to those who believe in God and Jihad (holy war) in God's way," the Ayatollah told visiting Hamas politburo head Khaled Meshaal,

"Iran considers the Palestinian issue as its own and regards supporting this movement as its Islamic duty," added the Iranian leader.

Khamenei, who, according to Iran's constitution, has the final say on all state affairs, further said that the future of Palestine was bright despite all the hardship and oppression.

"One of the main reasons for the enmity of the world's arrogance against Iran is the Palestinian issue," Khamenei said. "And if Iran would have made concessions over Palestine, they would have less enmity with us."

Some observers believe that even the nuclear dispute with Iran could be settled if Iran acknowledged the sovereignty of Israel and stopped support for the anti-Israeli militant groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

"But we will continue this support and make no concessions at all," the ayatollah added.

Meshaal was quoted as saying that Hamas would never bow to political and military pressures, adding that resistance is part of the main strategy of Hamas.

The Hamas politburo head also reiterated once again that, if Iran was attacked by Israel over the nuclear dispute, then Hamas would stand beside the Islamic state.

In a meeting Sunday with Meshaal, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad promised Hamas continued support in its fight against Israel until what he called the "imminent collapse of the Zionist regime (Israel)."

Meshaal said in the meeting with Ahmadinejad that Hamas would continue its fight against Israel and its supporters "until final victory."

Ahmadinejad has several times stressed that, as Israel was on the verge of elimination, Palestinians should stay vigilant and prepared for the liberation of holy Quds (Jerusalem).

Iran does not acknowledge the sovereignty of Israel and supports the Hamas movement. It has, however, stressed repeatedly that its support for Hamas is of a spiritual, and not material, nature.