The Deputy Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Ali Motahhari, on Saturday blasted the United States over its decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and called on Islamic states to sever ties with the U.S. in response.
Motahhari told the Iranian Fars news agency that the decision by U.S. President Donald Trump has backfired, as it has brought Muslim countries closer to each other over the Palestinian issue. He added the move has presented an opportunity for the Muslim world to stand united and strong.
"The least move the Muslim states can make is to summon the U.S. ambassadors for explanations; yet basically, they had better show action and cut off relations with the U.S.," he told Fars.
Motahhari added that Trump’s decision was an arrogant move in line with the Judaization of Jerusalem, and said that “Muslims are needed to take reciprocal action".
On Friday, senior Iranian cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami urged Palestinian Arabs to stage an uprising against Israel following Trump’s move.
Khatami said Trump had drawn a line on years of peace efforts by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
"He proved that the cure for the issue of Palestine is only, only, an intifada (uprising)," Khatami, who was appointed by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said in his sermon at Mosalla, Tehran's largest mosque.
"Only intifadas can turn day into a dark night for the Zionist regime," he added, urging the Palestinian people to rise and "rage against this occupying regime".
Iranians took to the streets of Tehran and other cities following Friday prayers to protest against Trump's decision.
Protestors chanted "death to the America", "death to Israel" and "death to England", and torched American and Israeli flags – as they often do during protests.
They also held up signs that read "Al-Quds (Jerusalem) is ours" and "We stand against Israel to the end".
