Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad joined the Quds Day march on Friday, March 13, accompanied by his deputies. He said the day is a legacy of the late founder of the Islamic Republic that has continued to gain significance under the country’s current leadership.

“Quds Day is a day when the world reflects on the suffering of the Palestinian people and recognizes the criminal nature of the Zionist regime,” Paknejad said.

He added that the situation in Gaza and the ongoing war there are clear examples of what he described as Israel’s criminal policies in the region.

Paknejad also said that in recent days the Iranian people have faced brutal attacks targeting hospitals, schools and residential areas.

“These attacks prove the truth of what the late imam said about Israel and what our martyred leader continued,” he said.

Paknejad further referred to Israel and the United States on pursuing their own interests, saying that human lives, national independence and the territorial integrity of countries are not a priority for them.