TEHRAN, February 20 (RIA Novosti) - Hamas, the radical Islamic group that won the Palestinian elections in January, has Tehran's political and moral backing, an Iranian government spokesman said Monday.
"The Islamic Republic gives its political, legal and moral support to the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas," the spokesman told journalists.
Iran will continue to provide assistance to the movement "for the purpose of establishing a free Palestine," he said.
A Hamas delegation led by Khaled Mashaal arrived in Tehran Monday, and the Hamas leader met with Iranian President Ali Khamenei.
The controversial leaders of both Hamas and Iran have called for the destruction of the state of Israel. The United States and some European countries fear that Iran is seeking to build nuclear weapons, while Hamas is viewed by the West as a terrorist organization.
