During his first interview with a Western journalist, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi describes Israel as a’malignant cancerous tumor’ and asserts that the ‘Holocaust certainly occurred,’ but calls for a thorough ‘study.’
President Ebrahim Raisi, whose full name is Ebrahm Ras al-Sdt, was elected in August 2021 and became the eighth president of the country.
Before becoming president, the 60-year-old leader, who is a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and considers Ayatollah Ali Khamenei his mentor, was the head of Iran’s judiciary.
President Ebrahim Raisi, full name Ebrahm Ras al-Sdt, was elected in August 2021 and became the eighth president of the country. Before becoming president, the 60-year-old leader, who views Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as his mentor, was the head of Iran’s judiciary.
Sunday’s 60 Minutes broadcast featured an interview conducted by renowned journalist Lesley Stahl at the presidential compound in Tehran. Before meeting the Iranian leader, Stahl was given a set of pre-interview tasks to fulfill.
The 60 Minutes interview that aired at 7.30 p.m. on Sunday was done by experienced journalist Lesley Stahl at the presidential compound in Tehran.
Stahl was provided with a set of pre-interview conditions before to her meeting with the Iranian leader.
I was instructed on how to dress, not to take a seat before he did, and not to disturb him. One hour was allotted for the interview,’ Stahl stated.
Stahl began the interview with negotiations on the nuclear deal, his grievance with President Trump calling the sanctions a ‘tyranny against the people of Iran,’ his execution of 5,000 political dissidents (which he denied, asking Stahl, ‘What kind of proof?’), and his execution of 5,000 political dissidents. These are allegations and claims made by a terrorist organization, he stated.)
Raisi talked through a translator and exhibited agitation at times.
However, one of the most stunning aspects of the hour-long broadcast was Stahl’s question to Raisi regarding his belief that the Holocaust occurred and that six million Jews were murdered. His response was characterized by indifference.
Historical events should be explored by researchers and historians, he stated. There are indications that it occurred. If so, they should permit its investigation and study.’
A photograph shot shortly after the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp Oswiecim (Auschwitz) by the Soviet army in January 1945 shows a group of children wearing concentration camp uniforms behind barbed wire fencing. The agency that negotiates compensation with the German government announced on Wednesday that Germany has agreed to contribute more than 500 million euros to aid Holocaust survivors struggling under the coronavirus outbreak.
April 1945: Starving Bergen-Belsen concentration camp inmates line up outside the cookhouse entrance to receive their rations of potato soup.
Stahl then challenged him about Israel’s right to exist, to which he responded, “Israel is a phony regime.”
“As you can see, the Palestinian people are the reality… this is the right of the Palestinian people who are forced to leave their homes and motherland,” he lamented.
The United States is assisting this illegitimate dictatorship to take root and establish itself in that region.
When Stahl questioned, “Are you aware that Morocco, Bahrain, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates have all recognized Israel and established diplomatic relations with it?” she said that Saudi Arabia is in direct communication with Israel.
Raisi retorted, “If a state joins hands with a Zionist regime, they are equally complicit in their atrocities, and they stab the concept of Palestine in the back.”
Stahl also challenged Raisi, “You have promised vengeance against the United States government for the death of your general Soleimani?”
General Qassem Soleimani was assassinated by a U.S. drone strike more than two years ago.
Soleimani was a venerated military hero in Iran and the mastermind behind years of ruthless and lethal attacks against American forces across the area.
The supreme leader has demanded revenge.
Stahl then asked, “Do you want to react by assassinating Trump administration officials?”
The answer of Raisi was, ‘What the then-American administration did, on Trump’s direct instruction, to assassinate Mr. Qassem Soleimani was a horrific crime. We desire that justice be served. This matter will not be forgotten.
Stahl also challenged Raisi, “You have promised vengeance against the United States government for the death of your general Soleimani?” General Qassem Soleimani was assassinated by a U.S. drone strike more than two years ago. Soleimani was a venerated military hero in Iran and the mastermind behind years of ruthless and lethal attacks against American forces across the area. The supreme leader has demanded retribution.
Stahl then asked, “Do you want to react by assassinating Trump administration officials?” The answer of Raisi was, ‘What the then-American administration did, on Trump’s direct instruction, to assassinate Mr. Qassem Soleimani was a horrific crime. We desire that justice be served. We are not going to overlook this.
Iran, described as one of the most Westernized nations in the Middle East, was featured in other segments of the Sunday interviews.
Stahl demonstrated the ‘as packed as New York’ streets, the bustling trade, and images of the bazaars teeming with shoppers. In one film, she described a retail center with an ice rink and a food court serving hot dogs and hamburgers.
Stahl stated that in one film, there were racy window displays at a mall, despite a decree by the Iranian leader that women who do not dress modestly are vulnerable to jail.
Stahl highlighted the tragedy of a young woman who was beaten to death by the mortality police for violating the country’s strict head covering regulations.
Stahl was’surprised’ that a member of Raisi’s crew prevented one of the cameramen from filming at the conclusion of the interview, just as she was ready to say goodbye.
She added that a member of the president’s security staff confiscated the cell phone of another cameraman for approximately two and a half hours.