J Street condemns in the strongest possible terms the anti-Semitic and anti-Israel statements made by Iranian First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi at the United Nations-sponsored antidrug conference in Tehran. This latest incidence of hate speech is utterly disgraceful and reminiscent of centuries-old slanders against the Jewish people, which at various times and in various places incited horrifying persecution.
While we do not believe they are representative of the views of the Iranian people at large, Rahimi’s unconscionable words raise the most serious concerns about the motivations and intentions of key Iranian officials regarding Israel, especially in light of Iran’s nuclear program. His indefensible comments underscore the importance to Israeli security and regional stability of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.