Iran's foreign minister condemns Holocaust

TEHRAN - Agence France-Presse

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R) hands over the decree to newly-appointed Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Marzieh Afkham (L) during a ceremony in Tehran on September 1, 2013. Zarif said on Facebook that Tehran condemns the World War II Nazi massacre of the Jews. AFP PHOTO/BEHROUZ MEHRI

Iran's foreign minister said on Facebook that Tehran condemns the World War II Nazi massacre of the Jews, in stark contract to Holocaust denials by former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
 
"We condemn the massacre of Jews by the Nazis, and we condemn the massacre of Palestinians by the Zionists," Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote on his Facebook page, where he published the text of an interview he gave to the Tasnim news agency.

Zarif was also asked whether he wished Jews "Happy Rosh Hashanah" (new year), and had had an exchange about the Holocaust on Twitter.

"I replied to a question from a person who appeared to be the daughter of the ex-speaker of the US House of Representatives," Nancy Pelosi, he wrote.

On his recently activated Twitter account, Zarif wrote in English "Happy Rosh Hashanah," and Christine Pelosi replied, thanking him.

"Thanks. The new year would be even sweeter if you would end Iran's Holocaust denial, sir," she wrote.

Zarif replied: "Iran never denied it (the Holocaust). The man who was perceived to be denying it is now gone. Happy New Year." Tehran does not recognise Israel and Ahmadinejad's eight years in office were filled with anti-Israeli diatribes and denial of the Holocaust.

The controversial Ahmadinejad was succeeded as president by Hassan Rowhani, who won a surprise election victory over five conservatives on June 14.

The former president's anti-Israel diatribes and Iran's controversial nuclear programme both contributed to its increased international isolation.

Rowhani's website on Thursday said he has tasked the foreign ministry with handling sensitive nuclear talks, in a possible signal of a less confrontational approach with world powers.

It was not immediately clear, but his announcement would seem to indicate that Zarif, a moderate who has lived in the West and negotiated with it, would take on the role personally.

"Every year we wish happy new year to our Christian compatriots," Zarif told Tasnim.

"We also have a Jewish minority that is represented in parliament by one deputy," he said.

"We have nothing against Jews and Judaism, but we do not allow Zionists to present Iran as being anti-Semitic and bellicose in their propaganda so they can continue to repress the Palestinian people... and have their crimes forgotten," he added.