Netanyahu: Iran is the largest terrorist regime against its own citizens
Israel’s Prime Minister called the Iranian government the “largest terrorist regime against its own citizens.” Benjamin Netanyahu described the Islamic Republic as a “fully authoritarian regime” that has “massacred hundreds of Iranian civilians” in the past week.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, referring to the suppression of recent protests in Iran, introduced the Islamic Republic as “the world’s largest terrorist regime and also against its own citizens.”
Netanyahu, alluding to yesterday’s statements by the CENTCOM commander who reported the possibility of repeated attacks by the Islamic Republic in the region, claimed: “Yes, it is true that Iran is planning to carry out new attacks, but Iran not only attacks its neighbors and us, but also attacks its own citizens.”
Israel’s Prime Minister, speaking today Sunday, November 24, 2019, at a meeting of the Israeli cabinet in Jerusalem, added that the Islamic Republic has “massacred hundreds of Iranian civilians” in the past week.
Netanyahu said the Iranian government is a “fully authoritarian regime” that has now exposed its true face to the world.
Following the rationing and tripling of gasoline prices on November 15 and the beginning of nationwide protests in Iran, security and police forces, amid internet shutdowns and the absence of free press, intensified suppression of these protests. The Islamic Republic’s government, by cutting off all communication channels, prevented free reporting on the protests and dissemination of information about victims of these events. Unofficial statistics indicate that the number of deaths has exceeded 100 people. Amnesty International has reported at least 115 deaths.
Only the official figure for the number of detainees is one thousand people, which the Farsnews agency announced on the second day of the protests. However, human rights reports and scattered statements from Iranian officials indicate that at least 4,800 people have been arrested in Iran within a week.
Netanyahu’s other reference goes back to yesterday’s statements by General Kenneth McKenzie, Commander of U.S. Armed Forces in the Middle East and Central Asia (CENTCOM) in Bahrain, in which he reported “clear and convincing evidence” of Iran’s involvement in the attack on Saudi Aramco oil facilities and said that this information would soon be provided to Riyadh.
The CENTCOM commander also, referring to Iran’s “irresponsible behavior,” reported the possibility of repetition of such behavior. General McKenzie also warned last Friday about possible further attacks by this country in the region, stating that Iran continues to threaten shipping in the Persian Gulf.
Call for increased pressure on Iran
Benjamin Netanyahu said in another part of his remarks today: “I call on all countries of the world that wish to achieve peace and stability in our region to join our efforts to increase pressure on Iran as much as possible.”
He also called for global support for Israel against Iranian “hostility” and said his country would confront Tehran’s actions in the future as well.
Netanyahu has consistently warned about the Islamic Republic’s expansionist policies in the Middle East and its intention to “erase Israel” and has accused Iran of secretly pursuing the production and acquisition of nuclear weapons despite the 2015 nuclear agreement known as the JCPOA.
The Islamic Republic has for the past 40 years considered Israel as its number one enemy and “liberation of Jerusalem” as its main regional doctrine. Israel’s air force has repeatedly attacked targets belonging to the Islamic Republic or its allies in the region.
Source: DW
