Zarif Accuses Netanyahu of Distorting 'Historical Realities'

Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic, in an exclusive interview with NBC, reiterated the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program, stating that comprehensive inspections will prove this. In the television interview, Zarif accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of distorting history regarding Iranian Jews, asserting that it was Iranian kings who saved Jews from death and disaster at various points in history, including in Babylon. Zarif referred to a part of Netanyahu's speech in Congress, where he mentioned a Jewish book called 'Esther' and stated: 'In this book, we read about a powerful Persian prince named Haman who plotted to destroy the Jewish nation about 2500 years ago. But a brave Jewish woman, Queen Esther, thwarted this evil plot by exposing it.' In the exclusive NBC interview, Zarif also emphasized that Iran's nuclear program is peaceful and achieving a comprehensive agreement would benefit everyone. He expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the nuclear negotiations despite their difficulties, while also accusing Netanyahu of fear-mongering and distorting historical realities. Zarif stressed that Iran is very serious about reaching a comprehensive nuclear agreement. He mentioned that discussions between the U.S. Energy Secretary and the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization on technical issues were very beneficial and facilitated progress in the talks. The Iranian Foreign Minister reiterated, 'Iran is not seeking to produce nuclear weapons and believes that possessing such weapons does not provide security for anyone, certainly not for Iran. For the Iranian people, having nuclear technology and scientific advancement is important and is considered a matter of pride.' In this exclusive interview, NBC reporter Andrea Mitchell asked about Netanyahu's accusations regarding Iran's aggressive policies and anti-Semitism. Zarif replied, 'Mr. Netanyahu accuses a country that has not attacked any of its neighbors in the past 250 years. This is a time frame that exceeds the history of many nations.' He added that Iran has always been a force for stability in the Middle East. The head of the Islamic Republic's diplomacy accused the Israeli government of aggression against others' territories and supporting terrorism, including backing the al-Nusra Front in Syria, stating, 'In all of the Middle East, it is Israel that has not accepted any nuclear treaties and has over two hundred nuclear bombs in its arsenal.' Zarif confirmed the presence of Iranian military personnel in Iraq and Syria, stating, 'These individuals are present at the invitation of the governments of these two countries to help them fight against ISIS and al-Qaeda terrorists there.' In this context, the American weekly Newsweek also reported in its latest issue with a photo of Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force, among several Kurdish Peshmerga, stating that this well-known military figure is leading a large-scale assault against the Islamic government in Tikrit. Newsweek referred to Qassem Soleimani as a major general and former commander of the Quds Force. In Zarif's interview with NBC, he emphasized in response to accusations of anti-Semitism by the Iranian government that: 'Iranians have saved Jews from the catastrophe of genocide at least three times throughout history. Unfortunately, Mr. Netanyahu distorts not only the facts but also the text of his own holy book regarding the role of Esther [the Jewish queen in the Persian court], as it was this king of Iran who [at that time] saved the Jews.' Zarif stated, 'If you also study the Old Testament, you will find that another Iranian king, namely Cyrus the Great, freed the Jews from captivity in Babylon. Today, the tomb of Esther in Iran is a pilgrimage site for Iranian Jews, who have the largest Jewish community in the region among Muslim countries.' The Iranian Foreign Minister mentioned a third instance during World War II when the Iranian government saved a large number of European Jews from falling into the clutches of the Nazi regime. He said Iran has a clear record of tolerance towards other religions, and Iranian Jews also have representation in parliament. The essence of Mohammad Javad Zarif's statements in lengthy discussions with American media was the emphasis on the point that 'Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons.' Meanwhile, the Chicago Tribune reported on Thursday that Benjamin Netanyahu, after returning from his trip to America, continues to say that reaching a flawless nuclear agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran is a fantasy and a futile imagination.