TEHRAN -- Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said on Monday that Ariel Sharon's recent attacks on Palestinian areas actually indicate his rejection of the peace plan suggested by Arab countries, adding that by surrounding Yasser Arafat's headquarters and massacring innocent Palestinians, the Zionist regime has, in fact, turned down any negotiation with the Palestinians.

Kharrazi also called Sharon's policies wrong and said that the strong motivation of the Palestinian nation has been manifested during the 18 months of the Intifada and the continuation of the Intifada will guarantee their victory against the Zionist regime.

Kharrazi referred to the achievements of the Intifada and said that the Intifada has not only led to the dignity of the Palestinians, but has also been a great honor for the Arab world and the Islamic world, adding that the Intifada has greatly increased insecurity in the Israeli regime and this is a significant issue.

With regard to the ineffective measures taken by international organizations such as the United Nations Security Council to solve the Palestine problem, Kharrazi said that Middle East issues have always been under the control of the United States, adding that the U.S. does not allow any country to interfere in its affairs.

He further referred to the Zionist regime as the epicenter of the crisis and a threat to regional countries and said that Israel is an alien entity in the region and is, in fact, a base for the penetration of colonizers.

Kharrazi also said that public opinion, particularly in the Islamic world, should support Palestinians until Israel withdraws from the occupied territories and an independent Palestinian state is established.

He added that a symbolic oil embargo would be effective, provided that all countries unite in the effort.