The United States has condemned what it called the “outrageous” comments by Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani this past weekend, calling Israel a “cancerous tumor” and once again reiterating its commitment to wiping the Jewish State from the face of the earth.
“We condemn the outrageous comments by #Iran’s Rouhani calling #Israel a “cancerous tumor,” questioning its right to exist & calling for its destruction,” wrote U.S. Special Representative to International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt in a post Monday on the Twitter social networking site.
“Rouhani continues to spread the Iranian regime’s hateful & destructive ideology instead of improving Iranian lives.”
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz condemned the remarks almost immediately, tweeting on Saturday, “I strongly condemn the recent unacceptable statements by President Rouhani relating to Israel. It is absolutely unacceptable when Israel’s right to exist is questioned or Israel’s destruction is being urged.
“Because of our historical responsibility, the decisive combat against all forms of anti-Semitism and the support for Israel are especially important to us. For Austria, Israel’s security is non-negotiable,” Kurz wrote.
The European Union likewise on Sunday condemned Rouhani’s statement as “totally unacceptable,” and reiterated its commitment to the security of Israel.
“President Rouhani’s remarks bringing into question Israel’s legitimacy are totally unacceptable,” said an EU spokesperson in an official statement. “They are also incompatible with the need to address international disputes through dialogue and international law.
“The European Union reiterates its fundamental commitment to the security of Israel, including with regard to current and emerging threats in the region.”
Speaking on Saturday to participants at an annual Islamic Unity Conference, Rouhani said, “One of the ominous results of World War II was the formation of a cancerous tumor in the region.” He then went on to call Israel a “fake regime” that was set up by Western nations.
The Iranian president also said the United States cultivates close ties with “regional Muslim nations” to protect the Jewish State, and said those nations were committing “treason” by bowing to American pressure.
In response, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to Rouhani the same day, warning, “Israel knows very well how to defend itself from the murderous Iranian regime.
“Rouhani’s slander, which calls for the destruction of Israel, proves yet again why the nations of the world need to join in the sanctions against the Iranian terrorist regime which threatens them,” he pointed out.