Iran vows to free Al-Aqsa mosque from Israel

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani Monday vowed to liberate the Al-Aqsa mosque in the old city of Jerusalem from the Israeli forces and spare no efforts to help the Palestinian people, state-owned Press TV reported.

"The administration of the Islamic Republic of Iran, like in the past, will use all tools at its disposal to save Al-Aqsa mosque and liberate the first Qibla (point of direction to which Muslims turn for prayers) of Muslims," Rouhani said at a conference on World Mosque Day in Tehran.

He added that the Muslim world will not allow Israel to continue its occupation of the mosque and promised that Iran would "spare no efforts to help the oppressed Palestinians".

"We are confident that the final victory belongs to Muslims," the Iranian president said.

Over half a million Israelis live in over 120 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the old city of Jerusalem. The international community considers the settlements as illegal.

Israeli forces strictly control Palestinians' entry into the Al-Aqsa mosque.