US support for Israel - main obstacle to peace in Middle East Iranian FM says

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that support for Israel’s actions in the Middle East by the US has become a key barrier to achieving global peace.

While speaking at a press conference with Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh, Araghchi expressed concern over the role of the UN Security Council in maintaining international peace, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

"Unfortunately, the UN Security Council is unable to fulfill its primary responsibility of establishing global peace, solely because one country, the US, is staunchly supporting Israel," Araghchi said.

He emphasised the importance of unity within the Arab and Islamic world, calling for stronger pressure on Israel to halt its actions. 

"These efforts have had some impact, however, they have not been enough to halt Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon, or its attacks on Syria," he added.

Since its establishment, Israel has been the largest cumulative recipient of US foreign aid, having received approximately $310 billion in both economic and military support. While the US has also extended significant foreign aid packages to other countries in the Middle East, such as Egypt and Iraq, Israel remains unique in this regard. From 1971 to 2007, the US provided Israel with significant economic assistance.

However, today, nearly all US aid is directed toward supporting Israel's military, which is the most advanced in the Middle East. Through a memorandum of understanding (MOU), the US has committed to providing Israel with $3.8 billion annually through 2028. Since the beginning of Israel's war with Hamas on October 7, 2023, the US has passed legislation allocating at least $12.5 billion in direct military aid to Israel.

By Naila Huseynova