Iran’s Khamenei calls upon Muslim countries to boycott Israel

DUBAI: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on Muslim states to cease oil and food exports to Israel, demanding an end to its bombardment of the Gaza Strip, state media reported.

“The bombings on Gaza must stop immediately ... the path of oil and food exports to the Zionist regime should be stopped,” Khamenei said in a speech, according to Iranian state media.

Israel has vowed to wipe out Tehran-backed Hamas, which rules Gaza, in retaliation for an Oct. 7 attack that killed 1,400 people and saw hundreds taken hostage.

Israel has launched an unprecedented bombardment of Gaza and imposed a siege of the enclave. Palestinian authorities say more than 8,000 people have been killed.

Iran’s clerical rulers have warned Israel of an escalation if it failed to end aggressions against Palestinians, with authorities indicating Tehran-backed proxies in the Middle East were ready to act.

In Turkiye, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian warned on Wednesday of “harsh consequences” if attacks continue on the Gaza Strip, the latest in a series of warnings from the country, which backs Hamas in Gaza and militias elsewhere in the region.

“If an immediate cease-fire doesn’t take place in Gaza Strip and the rapid attacks by US and Zionist Regime continue then the consequences would be harsh,” he said in Ankara.

The United States and Israel have struck Iranian-backed militias in the wider region in response to what they said were unprovoked attacks over the past few weeks that have fueled fears the Gaza conflict could ignite a wider war.

Speaking during a news conference with his Turkish counterpart, Amirabdollahian gave no details of Iran’s plans.

The country says it supports Hamas but did not play any role in the militants’ attack on Israel last month. Both it and Turkiye have condemned Israel’s subsequent bombardment of Gaza.

Amirabdollahian added that an imminent trip to Turkiye by Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi is on the agenda.