The political leader of Hamas on Tuesday vowed the group would keep up the fight against Israel as he continued a visit to Iran aimed at reinforcing ties with one of its key allies. Khaled Meshaal, who is on his latest stage of a regional tour in the wake of Hamas' election victory, said he has sought Iran's "help and support" following an Israeli decision to impose economic sanctions on the Palestinians. Meshaal, on the third day of a trip to Iran to meet Iran's clerical leadership, lectured students at Tehran University where he drew cheers, applause and the habitual chants of "Death to America" and "Death to Israel." Some students carried pictures of anti-U.S. leaders like Cuba's Fidel Castro, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Bolivian President Evo Morales as well as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
"Now that we are in power, it does not mean that the resistance will be halted. No, since without resistance we would have not been able to free our lands," he said, referring to the Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip in 2005. "We will not recognize Israel at any cost," Meshaal said, responding to a question on whether Hamas would recognize the Jewish state if it withdraws to the 1967 borders.