Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei Calls Normalization Of Relations With Israel A Wasteful Bet

JAKARTA - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said countries that want to normalize relations with Israel are at stake in losses, state media said.

Khamenei did not mention the names of the country, but Israel's expectations would normalize relations with regional rivals Iran, as well as Saudi Arabia, which is home to two Muslim holy places, have increased this month.

"The exact position of Iran is that countries that are betting on normalization with Israel will lose. They are betting on those who will lose," Khamenei said.

In response to Khamenei's statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran's efforts to stop countries in the region from establishing ties with Israel would fail, citing an agreement signed with Arab countries in 2020.

"Just as Iran cannot prevent us from achieving the Abrahamic Agreement, Iran will also not be able to prevent us from expanding the circle of peace in the interests of Israelis, people in the region and all mankind," said PM Netanyahu.

Earlier, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in an interview broadcast on September 20, the agreement on relations with Israel was getting closer day by day, while Prime Minister Netanyahu held a meeting with US President Joe Biden to discuss the prospects.

A US-brokered framework for a relationship between Israel and Saudi Arabia could be carried out early next year, Israel's foreign minister said last month, after the three countries hinted at progress in complicated negotiations.

It is known that the normalization of Israel-Saudi will dramatically change the Middle East map, unifying Washington's two main partners in the face of Iran, a growing foreign policy for President Joe Biden as he seeks to be re-elected by the end of 2024.

So far, four Arab countries have formalized relations with Israel in a pact known as the Abrahamic Agreement, namely the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco.