In a statement released on Monday night, Esmaeil Baqaei denounced the continuation of the Zionist regime's crimes in occupied Palestine and its illegal attacks against Lebanon and other countries in the region.

The Iranian spokesperson emphasized the legal and moral responsibility of all countries to confront this trend and to denounce and punish the Israeli criminals.

Highlighting the exalted status of Al-Aqsa Mosque as the first Qibla of Muslims among the Islamic Ummah and the Palestinian people, Baqaei stated that the Zionist regime's act of desecrating Al-Aqsa Mosque is part of its policy to change the Islamic and historical identity of holy city of al-Quds and to incite the sentiments of Muslims worldwide.

He finally called for effective action by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Muslim countries to neutralize the apartheid Israeli regime's maneuvers against the Islamic and historical identity of holy al-Quds.

His comments came after the Israeli regime’s far-right National ‌Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound ⁠in occupied East al-Quds Old ⁠City – his third incursion into Islam’s third holiest site this year.

Accompanied by Israeli settlers under heavy protection from Israeli forces, Ben-Gvir offered Jewish prayers at the site, which is not allowed for non-Muslims as part of the status quo arrangement in place since 1967, though Jewish people are permitted to visit the compound.

The Palestinian Authority’s presidency condemned the storming of the mosque compound, which has become more frequent in recent years.

Ben-Gvir, who has stormed the mosque compound at least 16 times since taking office in 2022, is part of a growing settler movement that wants to take over the Al-Aqsa Mosque, with the far-right Israeli minister having expressed his intention to build a Jewish synagogue in place of the holy Muslim site.