Zarif made these statements at the "School of Nasrallah" International Conference in Tehran, held to commemorate the 40th day since the martyrdom of Resistance leader Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah.

Addressing an audience gathered to honor Nasrallah's legacy, Zarif affirmed that "Hezbollah is alive," asserting that Israel’s security remains unattainable without the “complete liberation” of Palestinian territories. He highlighted that the resistance movement against Israel predates Iran’s Islamic Revolution, stating it will persist until all Islamic lands are free from what he described as “the clutches of the Zionists.”

Zarif also criticized U.S. and Western policies in the region, calling their actions a "strategic mistake" that continues to fuel regional instability. He stated that "peace will remain elusive" until the Palestinian people’s rights are respected and refugees are allowed to return to their homeland.

As a solution, Zarif echoed the proposal of the Supreme Leader of Iran, suggesting that a free referendum among all residents of the region—including Jews, Muslims, and Christians—would allow them to determine their collective future. He cited the end of apartheid in South Africa as an example of successful resolution through democratic means, adding that such a process is “the legacy of martyrs” like Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah, General Qassem Soleimani, and other prominent resistance leaders.

Zarif concluded by calling on U.S. and Western powers to heed this approach, underscoring that peace can only be achieved when Palestinians’ rights are recognized and upheld. (ILKHA)