Iran congratulates South Africa on 'successful' case against Israel at ICJ

By Syed Zafar Mehdi

TEHRAN, Iran (AA) - Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Friday congratulated South Africa on a "successful" case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

In a statement posted on X, immediately after the top UN court based in The Hague issued the interim ruling on Friday, Amir-Abdollahian congratulated the government and people of South Africa, the people of Palestine and his South African counterpart Naledi Pandor.

The ICJ on Friday delivered its preliminary ruling on the emergency measures called by South Africa in its genocide case against Israel over the events in the Gaza Strip since October 7.

The top UN court urged Israel to take steps to prevent acts of genocide in the blockaded territory but didn't order a cease-fire.

The final ruling in the case is likely to take years.

Iran was one of the countries that supported South Africa's case against Israel at the ICJ.

"Once again, I emphasize the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the initiative of the South African government," Amir-Abdollahian said in the statement.

He said the Israeli officials today are "the most hated people in public opinion worldwide" and that they "must be brought to justice immediately for committing genocide and unprecedented war crimes against Palestinians."

He once again accused the US of its "all-out support for the crimes" of Israel that he noted will "never be forgotten."

Iranian officials, including Amir-Abdollahian, have repeatedly held Washington responsible for the Israeli war on Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 26,000 people since October 7.

Earlier on Friday, Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi spoke to his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa and hailed the initiative of his country and said it would establish the South African president's name alongside that of anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.

"This action by a country that has experienced the bitterness of racism and genocide for years, is honoured and admired not only in the Islamic world but also by all the free and freedom-loving nations of the world," Raisi said, as cited by his office.