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The military presence of external players is having a destabilizing effect on the overall situation in the Middle East and is disrupting security within the region, TASS quoted Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani as saying on Thursday.

Commenting on a statement released by the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers yesterday, the Iranian diplomat said: "Historical data and the events taking place now clearly show that the military presence of external players has been one of the key aspects destabilizing the situation in the Middle East and posing a threat to its security."

Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s foreign policy has always been aimed at maintaining stability and security in the Middle East, Kanaani emphasized. "Since the latest crisis flared up in the Gaza Strip, Iran has been constantly making efforts to stop the hostilities. We are seeking to protect helpless civilians in the enclave from Israeli aggression," the Iranian Foreign Ministry quoted him as saying on its Telegram channel.

The diplomat again rebuffed allegations by the G7 that Tehran supports the radical movement Hamas and the Lebanon-based Shiite Hezbollah party, calling the accusations "false and absurd." Kanaani lamented that Iran had been expecting the G7 foreign ministers to condemn Israel’s actions, which "contradict international law and violate human rights in Gaza," at their latest meeting in Tokyo, but no such condemnation was forthcoming from the top G7 diplomats.