Ahmadinejad pledges continued support for Hamas

Exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal has met in Tehran with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who promised Hamas the Iranian regime's continued support in its fight against Israel. The Iranian leader told Mashaal that "Iran will always stand by the oppressed people of Palestine," according to the news agency ‘Fars’. “The enemies are experiencing successive failures," Fars quoted Ahmadinejad as saying, referring to "the failed assault over Gaza Strip and Lebanon, lack of success in reforming the US image" after President Obama took office, and a lack of success in Iraq and Afghanistan. These are "among failures of world arrogance and particularly the US and Zionist regime over recent years.”

Mashaal said Hamas and the Palestinian resistance would continue fighting until their goals became reality, Palestinians were determined to return to their homeland, he said.

In Gaza, Hamas was holding celebrations for its 22nd anniversary, with a large public rally and smaller parades. On Sunday, as preparations for the festivities were under way, the leaders of the movement promised a "surprise," although they gave no hints as to what that might be. In western Gaza, dozens of motorcyclists with green Hamas flags drove through the main street.