Rohingya tragedy sounds alarm for death of Nobel Peace Prize: Iran

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that violence in Myanmar against the Rohingya Muslims have sounded alarms for the death of Nobel Peace Prize, Tehran Times daily reported.

Khamenei called Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, a "cruel woman" since the crimes against Rohingya Muslims are taking place under her eyes.

Khamenei also called on Muslim nations to take practical steps to stop violence against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

"Of course, practical measures don't mean military deployments. Rather, they (Islamic states) have to increase their political, economic, and trade pressure on Myanmar's government and cry out against these crimes in international organizations," Khamenei was quoted as saying by Press TV.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) should convene to discuss the crisis in Myanmar, he said.

Khamenei strongly criticized the "silence and inaction" of international bodies and human rights advocates on the ongoing atrocities in Myanmar.

The Iranian leader said the crisis in Myanmar is a political issue and should not be reduced to a religious conflict between Muslims and Buddhists, although religious prejudice might have been involved.

Chief UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Monday that violence against ethnic Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar's northern Rakhine State is putting "all civilians at risks" with humanitarian activities either suspended or severely interrupted and tens of thousands of people uprooted from their homes.

Dujarric said as of Sunday, 313,000 Rohingyas, mostly women and children, have arrived at Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh since Aug. 25, with "no indication that the pace of these arrivals is slowing."

The Myanmar government is reporting the 3,500 Muslims living in three camps in Rathedaung Township have also left for Bangladesh.

Iran expects Myanmar to allow unhindered access of humanitarian assistance to violence-hit areas, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in his letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.