Iran's foreign minister slams UK's terror designation of Hamas

TEHRAN

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Friday condemned the UK government's decision to declare Hamas a terror organization.

The top Iranian diplomat said the rights of Palestinians "cannot be trampled on by distorting facts."

"The only political solution for Palestine lies in holding a referendum among all indigenous residents," Amir-Abdollahian wrote in a statement on Twitter.

Earlier Friday, British Home Secretary Priti Patel called the Palestinian resistance movement "fundamentally and rabidly anti-Semitic," adding that it was not possible to draw a line between the group's political and military wings.

The move, which will be pushed in the UK parliament next week, could see Hamas supporters and activists face jail terms of up to 14 years.

Hamas slammed the designation as "continued aggression" on Palestinians and their rights.

Iran has traditionally shared close ties with Palestinian resistance groups, including Hamas, while refusing to recognize Israel.

Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh has made frequent trips to Tehran, the last to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi in August.

At the same time, relations between Tehran and London have been marked by deep mistrust and hostility, especially concerning frozen Iranian assets and the nuclear deal stalemate.