The Iranians are beginning to back off a bit. At least verbally. Sort of. “Iran ‘withdraws’ Israel threats,” from the BBC, with thanks to Sr. Soph:
Iran says it has no intention to attack Israel despite a call by its president to have it “wiped off the map”.
Iran’s foreign ministry said Tehran respected the UN charter and had never used or threatened to use force.
But it also rejected a UN Security Council statement condemning President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over his remarks….
“The Security Council condemns the remarks about Israel attributed to Mr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” said the statement agreed by all 15 members….
But in the same reaction on Saturday, Iran’s foreign ministry said: “The declaration published by the Security Council – proposed by the Zionist regime to cover its crimes and give an image at odds with reality – is unacceptable.”
It expressed surprise that the Council had never condemned threats made against Iran by the US and Israel or the “crimes” of the Israeli regime.
Ahead of the UN session demanded by Israel, President Ahmadinejad stood by his “just” remarks.
He attended the Jerusalem Day rally in Tehran which Iran organises every year to show solidarity with the Palestinian struggle.
Shouting “Death to Israel, death to the Zionists“, the protesters dragged Israeli flags along the ground and set them on fire.
Mr Ahmadinejad said: “My words were the Iranian nation’s words.
“Westerners are free to comment, but their reactions are invalid.”
So sorry, Mahmoud. Henceforth I will check my comments with you to make sure they’re valid.