Rouhani challenges Iran deal detractors
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that "only the Zionists" are opposed to a nuclear deal, and those not supporting the negotiators are guilty of "betrayal."
At a speech commemorating the 36th anniversary of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Feb 11, President Hassan Rouhani defended his administration in the nuclear negotiations with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (P5+1).
Rouhani said that only “Iran’s enemies” are opposed to a nuclear and that “it’s only the Zionists who are putting all of their efforts to oppose a nuclear deal. But today the world has found out about their betrayal, especially after the crimes they committed in Gaza.”
The use of the word “betrayal” was an interesting choice given that earlier in his speech, Rouhani used the same word toward those not supporting Iranians on the battle front. In discussing the Iran-Iraq war era, he said: “Those days when our fighters were fighting in battle, behind the front, all the people were supporting those fighting at the front. And no betrayal is higher than a betrayal behind the front. And today, all the people and the leader of the revolution support those who are at the diplomatic front and battle.”
The comment was shared widely on Persian language social media though some insisted that Rouhani was accusing the Israelis of betrayal and that it was clear that all the people of Iran and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader who has final say on the nuclear program, supported the negotiations.
