FINE GAEL TD Alan Shatter said the Iranian ambassador to Ireland had confirmed that his country wanted to “wipe the state of Israel off the map”.
Mr Shatter told the Oireachtas foreign affairs committee that Iran was using the Palestinians as pawns in its games to secure political hegemony in the Middle East.
“The ambassador confirmed in a single sentence that it is the objective of Iran to wipe the state of Israel off the map . . . He stated that he believes in a one-state solution,” he said.
The ambassador, Ebrahim Rahimpour, rejected Mr Shatter’s comments. He had been invited to appear before the committee to discuss the current situation in Gaza. Speaking earlier through a translator, in response to questions from TDs and Senators, he said: “Our country believes in one state.” He added that Iran believed in one government only within the area.
Before this, the ambassador had read a prepared presentation in English. “The Islamic republic of Iran believes that occupation of Palestine, the oppression and the illegal behaviour of the Zionist regime towards the Palestinians in the area during the decades requires top priority in the agenda of foreign policy.” The Irish, he said, understood the Palestinian situation because of their own historical experiences.
Independent Senator David Norris said he did not believe Iran was centrally involved in the conflict in Gaza. “I pity so much the unfortunate abandoned Palestinians, and I thank God for people like John Ging of UNRWA ,” he said.
Labour TD Michael D Higgins raised the issue of reports that Iran is seeking to build nuclear weapons, as well as the treatment of homosexuals in the country.Speaking through his translator, the ambassador said: “We are not after atomic weapons. We are after peaceful use of the atomic energy.” On the subject of homosexuality, he said it was not acceptable within Iranian society and did not “follow the law”.
The committee is to write to Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh “to draw to his attention the inappropriateness of his comments” at its last meeting. Deputy Ó Snodaigh compared methods of the Israeli ambassador to Ireland, Dr Zion Evrony, and Mr Shatter to those of Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels. Mr Ó Snodaigh was not present yesterday.
