Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated on Tuesday that Israel was behind the recent publication of disparaging cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

Khamenei explained that Israel conspired against the world's Muslim through the cartoons as a result of their frustration over the victory of Hamas.

The cartoons are a ''conspiracy by Zionists who were angry because of the victory of Hamas,'' he said, according to the AP.

Khamenei made Tuesday's comments on Iran's state radio during a ceremony marking the decision of the Iranian air force to join the Islamic revolution in 1979.

He added that the scandal was particularly disturbing, as they were published by those ''who champion civilization and free expression.''

© 2006 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)