WASHINGTON — Israel won’t exist in 25 years and until then, the Jewish state will see “no moment of serenity,” Iran’s supreme leader vowed Wednesday.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made the threats over his English-language Twitter account, and posted a picture of a man — apparently him — stepping on a sidewalk painting of the Israeli flag.
“You will not see the next 25 years,” Khamenei wrote, referring to Israel. “God willing, there will be nothing as [sic] Zionist regime by the next 25 years.”
Khamenei also pledged, “Until then, struggling, heroic and jihadi morale will leave no moment of serenity for Zionists.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded that Khamenei’s words leave no doubt that Tehran’s goal is to annihilate his nation.
“Khamenei doesn’t even give room for illusion to those who support the [nuclear] deal,” said Netanyahu, according to Haaretz.
The threats against America’s strongest ally in the Middle East were lobbed as Congress returned from summer recess to deliberate the Iran nuclear pact.
A vote is expected in the coming days on the agreement Iran negotiated with the United States and five other nations.
Republicans have overwhelmingly opposed the Obama administration’s deal to prevent Tehran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon in exchange for sanctions relief. But 42 Democratic senators have pledged support — enough to squelch GOP efforts to block the deal.
Khamenei didn’t mince words on America either — calling the United States the “great Satan.” He ruled out negotiations on any other matter, whereas more moderate government officials — including President Hassan Rouhani — signaled willingness to take part in international talks on resolving the Syrian civil war.
“We allowed negotiation with US only on nuclear issue for certain reasons,” Khamenei stated. “In other areas, we did not and will not allow negotiations with US.”
He added, “[The] Iranian nation did expel this Great Satan; we barred their direct access and now we must not allow their indirect access and infiltration.”
The Obama administration acknowledges Tehran’s terrorist activities, but insists that Israel, and the world at large, are safer under the agreement because an Iran with a nuclear weapon would be far more dangerous. Inspection provisions in place allow for detection of violations and for the ability to restore sanctions, supporters of the deal argue.
“For me, this agreement must be built on a principle of distrust and verify,” Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) said Wednesday. “ And the architecture our negotiators designed to verify compliance with this agreement took this approach and set new precedents in key areas.”
But Netanyahu, along with his GOP allies in Congress, worry Iran will use the billions from sanctions relief to threaten Israel’s security.
Netanyahu said he won’t let Khamenei get his wish.
“He highlights that the US is the Great Satan and that it is Iran’s intention to destroy the State of Israel — this won’t happen,” Netanyahu vowed.
