Iran declines to attend Sharm el-Sheikh Summit, urges halt to Gaza genocide

TEHRAN (Iran News)  Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) regarding an invitation extended to Iran to participate in a ceremony for signing a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the Israeli regime’s military aggression against the people of Gaza that the Islamic Republic has no plans to attend the meeting.

The spokesperson reiterated Iran’s longstanding position, emphasizing support for any initiative that would lead to the cessation of genocide in Gaza, alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people, facilitate the withdrawal of occupiers from the region, and ensure unobstructed access to essential supplies for the population.

Baghaei praised the resilience, patience, and heroic sacrifices of the Palestinian people in the face of the ongoing war crimes and genocide committed by the Israeli regime over the past two years.

He asserted that the future of Palestine should be determined exclusively by the Palestinian people and their legitimate representatives. He expressed hope that regional countries and the international community would learn from the historical violations and atrocities committed by the Israeli regime, preventing the recurrence of past lawlessness and breach of promises.

The spokesperson also thanked the Egyptian government for its invitation to Iran and stressed the importance of solidarity and consensus among the Islamic world and regional nations. He highlighted the need to create conditions that support the right to self-determination for the Palestinian people while countering the threats posed by the expansionist and war-mongering policies of the Israeli regime.

In addition, early on Monday, in an X post, Araghchi expressed gratitude to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s invitation but made it clear that “while favoring diplomatic engagement, neither President [Masoud] Pezeshkian nor I can engage with counterparts who have attacked the Iranian People and continue to threaten and sanction us.”