Iran lambastes Germany for supporting Israeli crimes

Iran has censured Germany for supporting the Israeli regime in its crimes in Palestine, Lebanon and Syria, calling on Berlin to stop turning a blind eye to the realities of the Middle East region.

In an online statement on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi condemned a Tuesday statement by the German Federal Foreign Office that underscored the German government's support for the Tel Aviv regime and called for Iran's "practical steps to de-escelate tensions" in the region.

The German statement was issued in reaction to remarks made by the chief commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), who said on Monday the Israeli regime is on its path toward collapse.

Mousavi said the only way to bring calm back to the Middle East and end all escalations in the region was by countering Israel's aggression.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran sees countering Israel's destructive, interfering and inhumane actions by all parties as the only way to de-escalate tensions in the region," he said.

He also called on Germany to take into account the realities of the region so that it could address the high expectations about its effective and constructive role in establishing lasting peace and stability in the region.

He noted that Tehran views supporting Palestinians and other oppressed people of the region as its Islamic and humane commitments.

A German official, also on Monday, had called on Chancellor Angela Merkel to put Israel's security above "possible economic interests” that comes with the Iran nuclear deal -- known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Uwe Becker, commissioner of the Hessian federal state government for Jewish life and the fight against anti-Semitism, said Berlin should "freeze" relations with Iran and instead push for sanctions against the country to show its support for Israel in the face of "the current escalation."

Iran and the other signatories of the JCPOA -- the UK, France, China, Russia and Germany -- have been struggling to salvage the deal after the US abandoned it in May 2018.

The US, under President Donald Trump and with direct support from Israel, has imposed several rounds of tough economic sanctions on Iran in order to force the Islamic Republic into negotiating a new deal.