Really moderate, or just for show? Iranian President Rouhani. Illustrative. FEMA/Marty Bahamonde.
Don’t expect Iran to ever be friendly with the Americans. That was the message the leader of Iran gave on Saturday night to a group of university students in Tehran. Terming the United States as the “complete instance of arrogance” according to a report by the Fars News Agency, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said that Islam itself required them to continue its opposition to such “arrogance.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said, “We would not be subordinate to the Koran if we stop [the] campaign against the arrogance… Get yourselves ready for continuing [the] campaign against the arrogance.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu highlighted these comments and other Iranian actions as proof their anti-Western regime remains in force despite the current supposedly moderate president, Hassan Rouhani, and their willingness to negotiate the nuclear matter with the world powers.
“The President of Iran, Rohani, stands at the head of the march of hatred in the streets of Tehran, in which US and Israeli flags were burned, and in which many chanted ‘Death to America’ and ‘Death to Israel,’” said Netanyahu on Sunday in comments released by his office.
Netanyahu made it clear that even if the world powers didn’t let this reality impact their discussions with Iran, Israel would not be sacrificed on the altar of appeasement of Iran.
“Iran does not hide its intention to continue its murderous aggression even against those with whom it is negotiating [the nuclear deal],” said Netanyahu. “Perhaps there is someone among the great powers who is prepared to capitulate to this reality that Iran is dictating, which includes its unending calls for the destruction of Israel—we will not pay the price for this.”
(By Joshua Spurlock, www.themideastupdate.com, July 12, 2015)