News story

Foreign Office Minister condemns anti-semitic comments by Iranian Vice-President

Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt responds to unacceptable comments made by the Iranian Vice-President.

• From: Foreign & Commonwealth Office and The Rt Hon Alistair Burt
• Published: 28 June 2012

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Responding to comments made by Iran’s Vice-President Rahimi at a UN drugs event in Tehran, Minister Burt said:

“We condemn utterly the baseless comments from Iran’s Vice-President Rahimi about the Talmud and the Jewish faith, made at a United Nations drugs control event in Tehran this week. Racism and anti-Semitism are unacceptable in any circumstance, let alone at an event sponsored by the United Nations. We call upon Iran to correct this scandalous statement, and to ensure that its officials respect the proper international norms and standards in the future.”

Published 28 June 2012