WarSclerotic

While the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers was meant to be a first step toward improving the Islamic republic’s relationships with the international community, the Iranian leadership has not changed its attitude toward Israel, a new report from the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, headed by former Foreign Ministry Director General Dore Gold, has found.

The report said that Iran’s long-range missile program demonstrates the state’s anti-Israel fervor. The missiles are frequently inscribed with slogans such as “Israel should be wiped off the face of the earth.” The report said that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “paves the way” for the fierce anti-Israel rhetoric in the military and the nation.

On Oct. 26, 2015, referring to Khamenei’s promise that Israel would not exist in 25 years, Iranian Ground Force Commander Brig. Gen. Ahmad Reza Purdastan said the country’s missile program could guarantee this.

“We are eager to see Israel make a move to put the supreme leader’s remarks into action as soon as possible,” he said.

Several other Iranian leaders have also referred to Khamenei’s remarks and have similarly promised Israel’s demise.

Kahmenei’s promise to destroy Israel appears on a range of social media sites, inspiring further posts and images that promote hatred for and the annihilation of Israel.

“The combination of an extreme Islamist ideology that repetitively preaches the destruction of Israel, boasts of its advanced missile program, and seeks to return to the bosom of the Western world makes Iran all the more dangerous,” the report said. “This over-confident Iran continues to export terrorism to Palestinian terrorist organizations, Hezbollah, and subversive groups in the Gulf states, some of which undermine American interests.”