Tehran backs Jordanian custodianship over holy sites

By Laith Juneidi

AMMAN

Iran’s ambassador to Jordan on Wednesday stressed his country’s continued support for Jordanian custodianship over Muslim and Christian holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem.

Mahabati Fardous made the assertion at a meeting with Atef Tarawneh, the speaker of Jordan’s parliament.

At the meeting, Tarawneh also said Jordan planned to attend the 13th meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) scheduled to be held in Tehran early next year.

According to a statement issued by Tarawneh’s office, the Iranian diplomat also confirmed his country's support for “the Jordanian position on the United States’ recent decision to relocate its embassy [from Tel Aviv] to Jerusalem”.

Tension has mounted across the Middle East since Dec. 6, when U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The historic city remains at the heart of the perennial Middle East conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- occupied by Israel since 1967 -- might eventually serve as the capital of a Palestinian state.