Iran's Rouhani: Israel founded on intimidation, terror, occupation

ISIS, Taliban, Boko Haram are other sources of terrorism in the Middle East, Iranian president says.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Updated: AUGUST 31, 2015 12:37
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (photo credit: REUTERS)
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani accused Israel on Monday of being founded on the basis of terror and continuing that legacy to the present day. 
“This regime began its work on the basis of intimidation, terror and occupation, and is continuing [on] the same anti-human path today,” Iran's Press TV quoted Rouhani as saying on Monday at an international conference commemorating the Iranian victims of terrorism. 
According to Rouhani, Israel is not the only source of terror in the Middle East. He cited Islamic State, the Taliban and Boko Haram, as other regional sources of terrorism. 
He said terrorism has turned into an organized practice, adding that a “global will” is required to wipe it out. He also cautioned about "ideological terrorism," which he said was when a group of fanatics commits acts of terror under the cover of religion.
"Terrorism is one of the scourges plaguing the human community since old times," Rouhani said, adding, “In the modern world and modern politics, terror and terrorists have taken on a new shape.”
Rouhani surveyed recent Iranian history during which he said the Islamic Republic had been targeted by terrorism. 
“Following the victory of the [1979] Islamic Revolution, Iran first fell victim to terror and terrorism, and second, it fell victim to an imposed war [by Iraq in the 1980s]; and in the very same war, it fell victim to weapons of mass destruction,” Press TV quoted Rouhani as saying.
 
The US and certain other Western states bang the drum for fighting terrorism but turn a blind eye to the acts of terror committed by notorious terrorists who have killed thousands of innocent people in Iran, he added.
The president also slammed the UN and other international bodies for failing to take serious action to tackle terrorism, saying they have never condemned the Israeli regime for committing war crimes and acts of genocide as well as conducting organized attacks against Palestinians.