Khamenei : "The U.S. is not a real mediator, it stands by the Zionists,"

Khamenei : "The U.S. is not a real mediator, it stands by the Zionists,"(UOI).

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said today that the United States is not a good mediator in Mideast peace talks because of its ties with Israel. Khamenei made the comments ahead of the second round of U.S.-brokered Israeli-Palestinian peace talks next week. The talks resumed after a five-year freeze.

The Islamic Republic has traditionally been against the principle of the two-state solution, the eventual goal of the Palestinian-Israeli talks. Ideologically, it prefers a single Palestinian state encompassing Muslims and the Jews. Pragmatically, it has said it would accept whatever solution the Palestinians agree with.

“The U.S. is not a real mediator, it stands by the Zionists,” said Khamenei. “Definitely, it is against the interests of the Palestinians.” (IRNA/AP, 9 August)

Khamenei added that the current U.S.-sponsored talks will damage the Palestinians and force them to “abandon their rights and encourage the occupier.” He did not offer any alternative to the current peace talks.

The Palestinians seek to establish a state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, lands Israel captured in 1967.