Spokesman of the Ministry of Culture: Berlin Orchestra Not Allowed to Perform in Iran

Hosseini Nouh-Abadi, spokesman for Iran's Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, emphasized the "illegitimacy of the nature" of Israel from the perspective of the Islamic Republic and announced the cancellation of the Berlin Orchestra's trip and performance in Iran. On Friday, September 6, Mr. Nouh-Abadi told the Fars News Agency that "as part of cultural and artistic exchange between countries, the German orchestra was supposed to travel to Tehran and perform at the Vahdat Hall," but "when it became clear that some leaders and officials of this orchestra have Israeli identities, this issue was immediately addressed, and this orchestra will not be allowed to perform in Iran." The Jerusalem Post, published in Israel, had previously reported that the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Daniel Barenboim, was set to travel to Iran for a concert. Mr. Barenboim holds Israeli citizenship but is considered a vocal critic of his country's policies against Palestinians. However, the spokesman for the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Iran stated that "the nature of the Zionist regime is illegitimate, and we have never recognized them," adding, "just as we consider this regime illegal and usurping, we also consider artists associated with Israel to be illegitimate and unacceptable, and artists associated with the Zionist regime have no place in Iran." According to Mr. Nouh-Abadi, "Ali Jannati, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, personally followed up on this matter and did not allow the entry of this German orchestra, and this trip will definitely not take place." The spokesman for the Ministry of Culture also said that "the request to hold this concert did not come from Iran, and the German group voluntarily requested to perform," claiming that "the Ministry of Culture did not invite this group to come to Iran." Fars News Agency also quoted Masoud Basiri, head of the Basij Media Organization, reporting that "after the nuclear agreement, it was supposed that technology and investment would enter the country, but these days we hear news about McDonald's sandwich shops and the arrival of artistic and entertaining groups." Mr. Basiri added, "The ink of the agreement written in Vienna has not yet dried, and the British embassy has reopened, and talk of McDonald's entering the country has begun. Now we also hear that a Zionist German orchestra is supposed to enter the country. Our question is, is this the result of the agreement and a smile towards America?"