Was it ironic, or simply moronic, that new Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said recently that “Israel must be wiped off the map” just as Iran is trying to convince the world that its nuclear intentions are pure?
Governments worldwide rightly condemned the remark, which was so startling as to prompt some to suggest it shouldn’t be taken seriously. But such hateful talk from the leader of a country that sponsors terrorism against Israel cannot be dismissed as empty bluster. Israel and others should interpret it as a warning of Iran’s intentions.
In the course of his remarks, Ahmadinejad went further afield, saying, “God willing, we will soon experience a world without the United States.” And, he added, “Anybody who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nation’s fury.”
The United Nations Security Council quickly passed a unanimous resolution condemning Ahmadinejad’s statement.
The Russian foreign minister said the remarks were “inexcusable,” and French Prime Minister Jacques Chirac said he found them shocking. “I find it truly inappropriate and irresponsible and the Iranian president risks being marginalized, which for a great nation such as Iran is an unacceptable situation,” he said.
Iran already finances Hezbollah and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which carries out terror operations against Israeli civilians.
With Tehran on a nuclear course, Ahmadinejad’s remarks stir particular unease. Iran possesses long-range missiles capable of striking Israel, though Martin Indyk, director of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, notes, “Iran can only load them (now) with chemical warheads. To launch them against the powerful Israeli military would bring disproportionate death and destruction down on Ahmadinejad’s own people.”
Ahmadinejad’s declarations came as the International Atomic Energy Agency was gathering evidence that indicates Iran is pursuing its nuclear quest and as the U.S. and France were preparing to seek Security Council sanctions against Iran for flouting nuclear non-proliferation rules.
Later this month, the IAEA is scheduled to vote to refer the resolution to the Security Council. In the meantime, Israel has called for the expulsion of Iran from the U.N. “A country calling for the destruction of another people cannot be a member,” said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Israel’s idea deserves discussion by the Security Council. Failing that, the council should consider punitive sanctions.
