Iran reiterates all-out support for Palestinian Hamas

As a sign of political support for Gazans, Ahmadinejad also urged the United Nations to bring Israeli leaders to justice for "crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza."

Chief of Hamas political bureau Khaled Meshaal (2nd L in the front) greets audience during a rally in Tehran University Feb. 2, 2009. A Palestinian  Islamic Hamas movement delegation led by Khalid  Mashaal arrived in Iran on Sunday.(Xinhua/Che Ling)

Unearthing his inclination for Iran's never-ending sympathy for the Palestinians, Hamas leader praised Tehran for playing a "big role" in what he described as the "victory of Gaza's people."

Mashaal said the "people of Gaza ... have always appreciated the political and spiritual support of Iranian leaders and nation."

"Iran has definitely played a big role in the victory of the people of Gaza and is a partner in that victory," he told Ahmadinejad.

At a joint press conference with Mashaal, Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Sunday that "now it was important to relieve the sufferings of Gaza residents and restore the enclave destroyed during the 22-day aggression by the Zionist regime."

Mottaki spoke for an immediate lifting of the Gaza blockade and the reopening of the Gaza port and border crossings for the delivery of humanitarian cargoes.

Mottaki also urged other countries to "take maximum efforts to reconstruct Gaza and offer help to the needy people through the legitimate Hamas government."

Praising Palestinians' "victory" in the 22-day war against Israel, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seied Ali Khamenei also said in a meeting with Mashaal on Sunday that Iran was prepared to help the oppressed people of Gaza to reconstruct the territory.

The Iranian leader also urged the trial of "the Zionist regime leaders" for committing "war crimes" against the people of Gaza in the recent war.

Mashaal, for his part, lauded Iranian government and people's support for the Palestinians and briefed Ayatollah Khamenei on the developments during the 22-day Israeli onslaught on Gaza.

Mashaal arrived in Tehran on Sunday for talks with senior Iranian officials on major regional and international issues. The visit is a part of his regional tour that "previously took him to Egypt, Qatar, Syria and Turkey."

Iran never hesitated to pronounce its all-out support for Hamas during the three-week unprecedented Israeli military offensive on Gaza, during which about 1,400 Palestinians were killed and 5,500 others wounded.