Mike Pence Once Again Accuses the Islamic Republic of Attempting to Establish Another Holocaust

The Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence, on Friday, March 1, once again accused the Iranian government of attempting to instigate another Holocaust and emphasized that Washington will stand against the Islamic Republic. Speaking at the 'Conservative Political Action Conference' in Maryland, Pence praised President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal with Iran, calling it 'catastrophic.' He stated, 'President Trump, backed by his global leadership power, has confronted the greatest threat to peace and stability in the Middle East and withdrew the United States from the catastrophic nuclear deal with Iran.' These remarks came as Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif defended the JCPOA, describing it as 'the result of 10 years of confrontation and negotiation,' and told Trump that 'you will not find a better deal than this.' However, Pence went beyond the nuclear agreement issue, describing Iran as a 'leader' in 'supporting global terrorism.' The U.S. Vice President said, 'Iran supports terrorist-affiliated groups, fuels conflicts in the region, plots terrorist attacks on European soil, and openly calls for the destruction of the state of Israel.' He then referenced the massacre of millions of Jews by Nazi Germany, stressing that this event must never be forgotten, and the international community must be vigilant to act and condemn whenever anti-Semitism arises again. Pence added, 'The Iranian government clearly advocates for another Holocaust and is seeking a way to carry it out. But I assure you that the United States, under President Donald Trump's leadership, will stand firmly against it. We will continue to confront Iran and its malevolent influence. And I promise you that the U.S. under this President will never allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.' Late last February, Pence had also accused the Islamic Republic of seeking to establish a 'new Holocaust' through its hostility towards Israel. He referred to statements by Hossein Salami, the deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guards, who said, 'Our strategy is to erase Israel from the political geography of the world.' However, Iranian officials dismissed the accusations of 'anti-Semitism' and attempts to establish a 'new Holocaust' as 'absurd and propagandistic.' Among them, Mohammad Javad Zarif stated, 'Iran has always supported Jews. We are only against Zionists. The Holocaust was a catastrophe, and no one, not even the Vice President of the United States, has the right to use the Holocaust for propaganda.'