Why it matters:
Iran, a major power in the region, was invited to participate in the so-called Gaza peace summit, but it rejected the invitation, declaring that it will never sit beside those whose hands are drenched in the blood of the Iranian nation and the oppressed across the region.
The big picture:
The Gaza summit, hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and attended by U.S. President Donald Trump and over 20 world leaders, aims to push for a ceasefire and regional stability.
Iran has long positioned itself as a defender of Palestinian resistance and has condemned the ongoing Israeli genocide.
What he is saying:
Neither President Pezeshkian nor I can sit alongside counterparts who have attacked the Iranian people, continue to threaten us, and impose sanctions, Araghchi wrote on X.
Nevertheless, Tehran supports any initiative aimed at ending the Zionist regime's genocide in Gaza and defending the Palestinians' right to self-determination.
Go deeper:
Ceasefire Deal Result of 'Enormous Sacrifices' in Gaza: Islamic Jihad
M.Majdi - H.Jalalifar
