The Iranian president’s recent remarks denying the Holocaust could be grounds for sanctions against Iran, European leaders warned Tehran on Friday in a draft summit statement.
European leaders condemned Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s recent comments describing the Holocaust as a "myth” And for calling for Israel to be “wiped off” The map.
"These comments are wholly unacceptable and have no place in civilized political debate,” the statement said.
EU leaders warned Tehran they were reviewing their diplomatic options for possible sanctions against Iran, adding that “given provocative political moves by Iran since May,” The EU would “continue to calibrate the EU’s approach in light of Iranian declarations and actions.”
Iran threatens Israel with ‘destructive’ response
EU leaders, meeting at a summit in Brussels, were expected to adopt the statement later Friday.The condemnation comes less than a week before envoys from Germany, France and Britain are to resume negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.
The statement also reiterated “deep concern about the lack of respect for human rights and fundamental political freedoms in Iran.”
Yet despite the European remarks, Iran continued to wage its verbal war again Israel Friday, with the defense minister saying that any Israeli strike would provoke a “destructive” response.
State TV quoted the minister, Gen. Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, as saying that Iran’s defenses were strong enough to thwart any attack, but were Israel to try, “the answer of the Iranian armed forces to any attack would be quick, sharp and destructive.”