Title: Raisi: Israel's Normalization of Relations with Gulf States Will Fail

Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi stated on Sunday that U.S.-sponsored efforts to normalize relations between Israel and Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, "will not succeed." In an interview with CNN, Raisi mentioned that Iran has not claimed it does not want International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors on its territory. Israel has moved closer to the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco following a U.S.-led diplomatic initiative in 2020 that resulted in the normalization of relations. Establishing ties with Saudi Arabia would represent a major victory for Israel and change the geopolitical landscape in the Middle East. Commenting on Iran's nuclear program, Raisi said, "We have repeatedly stated that the use of nuclear weapons, or the use of weapons of mass destruction in general, will not happen. Why? Because we do not believe in them, nor do we need them." He added, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has not said it does not wish to have any inspectors here."