Iranian president says ‘Holocaust probably happened’ calls Israel ‘malignant cancerous tumor’

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi speaks out during the first interview with a Western reporter during a ’60 Minutes’ segment calling Israel a ‘malignant cancerous tumor,’ and claiming the ‘Holocaust probably happened,’ but says there needs a proper ‘investigation.’

President Ebrahim Raisi, whose full name is Ebrahīm Raʾīs al-Sādātī, 60, was elected to the presidency in August 2021 and became the country’s eighth president. 

The 60-year-old leader, who descends from the Prophet Muhammed and considers Ayatollah Ali Khamenei his mentor, was the former head of Iran’s judiciary before he became president.  

President Ebrahim Raisi, full name Ebrahīm Raʾīs al-Sādātī, 60, was elected to the presidency in August 2021 and became the country’s eight president. The 60-year-old leader, who considers Ayatollah Ali Khamenei his mentor, was the former head of Iran’s judiciary before he became president

The interview aired on Sunday on 60 Minutes by veteran reporter Lesley Stahl held at the presidential compound in Tehran. Before meeting the Iranian ruler, Stahl was given a list of requirements she needed to fulfill before the interview

The interview aired on Sunday on 60 Minutes by veteran reporter Lesley Stahl held at the presidential compound in Tehran. Before meeting the Iranian ruler, Stahl was given a list of requirements she needed to fulfill before the interview 

The interview that aired at 7.30pm Sunday on 60 Minutes was conducted by veteran reporter Lesley Stahl and held at the presidential compound in Tehran. Before meeting the Iranian ruler, Stahl was given a list of requirements she needed to fulfill before the interview.

‘I was told how to dress, not to sit before he did, and not to interrupt him. We were given one hour for the interview,’ Stahl said.

Covered from head to tie, and wearing the traditional head covering, Stahl opened up the interview starting 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 (something he denied… asking Stahl, ‘What kind of proof? These are allegations and claims from a terrorist group,’ he said.) 

Raisi spoke through a translator and, at times, he appeared agitated. 

But, one of the most shocking portions of the hour-long segment was when Stahl asked Raisi if he believes ‘the Holocaust happened… that 6 million Jews were slaughtered? and his response was one of indifference.  

‘Look,’ he said, ‘Historical events should be investigated by researchers and historians. There are some signs that it happened. If so, they should allow it to be investigated and researched.’

A picture taken just after the liberation by the Soviet army in January, 1945, shows a group of children wearing concentration camp uniforms at the time behind barbed wire fencing in the Oswiecim (Auschwitz) Nazi concentration camp. Germany has agreed to provide more than a half billion euros to aid Holocaust survivors struggling under the burdens of the coronavirus pandemic, the organization that negotiates compensation with the German government said Wednesday

A picture taken just after the liberation by the Soviet army in January, 1945, shows a group of children wearing concentration camp uniforms at the time behind barbed wire fencing in the Oswiecim (Auschwitz) Nazi concentration camp. Germany has agreed to provide more than a half billion euros to aid Holocaust survivors struggling under the burdens of the coronavirus pandemic, the organization that negotiates compensation with the German government said Wednesday

April 1945: Starving internees at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp waiting at the cook house gate for their rations of potato soup

April 1945: Starving internees at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp waiting at the cook house gate for their rations of potato soup

Stahl then asked him about Israel and their right to exist and calls Israel a ‘false regimen.’ 

‘You see the people of Palestine are the reality … this is the right of the people of Palestine who are forced to leave their houses and motherland,’ he lamented.

‘The Americans are supporting this false regime there to take root and be established there.’

When Stahl asked: ‘You know that Morocco, Bahrain, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates have all recognized Israel and have relations with Israel, Saudi Arabia is talking directly with Israel,’ she said.

Raisi shot back: ‘If a state shakes hand with a Zionist regime then they are also an accomplice to their crimes and they are stabbing the idea of Palestine in the back, he said.

Stahl also asked Raisi: ‘You have vowed revenge on the U.S. government for the killing of your General Soleimani.

The U.S. killed General Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike, more than two years ago.

Soleimani was a revered military hero in Iran, and was the architect behind the brutal and deadly attacks on American forces throughout the region for years. 

The supreme leader has called for retaliation.

Stahl then asked:  Are you intending to retaliate by assassinating officials from the Trump administration?

Raisi’s response: ‘What the then American government did, by the direct order of Trump himself, to assassinate Mr. Qassem Soleimani, this was a heinous crime. We want justice to be served. We are not going to forget about this.’

Stahl also asked Raisi: 'You have vowed revenge on the U.S. government for the killing of your General Soleimani. The U.S. killed General Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike, more than two years ago. Soleimani was a revered military hero in Iran, and was the architect behind the brutal and deadly attacks on American forces throughout the region for years. The supreme leader has called for retaliation

Stahl also asked Raisi: ‘You have vowed revenge on the U.S. government for the killing of your General Soleimani. The U.S. killed General Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike, more than two years ago. Soleimani was a revered military hero in Iran, and was the architect behind the brutal and deadly attacks on American forces throughout the region for years. The supreme leader has called for retaliation

Stahl then asked: Are you intending to retaliate by assassinating officials from the Trump administration? Raisi's response: 'What the then American government did, by the direct order of Trump himself, to assassinate Mr. Qassem Soleimani, this was a heinous crime. We want justice to be served. We are not going to forget about this'

Stahl then asked: Are you intending to retaliate by assassinating officials from the Trump administration? Raisi’s response: ‘What the then American government did, by the direct order of Trump himself, to assassinate Mr. Qassem Soleimani, this was a heinous crime. We want justice to be served. We are not going to forget about this’

 
Other parts of the Sunday interviews showed footage of Iran, described as one of the most Westernized countries in the Middle East. 

Stahl showed the traffic along the streets, she said, is ‘as congested as NY,’ the bustling commerce, and footage of the bazaars teeming with shoppers. In one clip, she shared a shopping mall complete with an ice-skating rink, and a food court that served hot dogs, and hamburgers.

In one clip, there was a display at the mall of sexy window displays, Stahl said,  despite a decree enacted by the Iranian ruler that if a woman doe not dress modestly they will be subject to arrest. 

Stahl highlighted the beating of a young woman, who died after the mortality police beat her to death, because she violated the country’s stringent rules of head coverings.

At the close of the interview when Stahl was about to say her goodbyes, a member of Raisi’s team blocked one of the cameramen from shooting the footage, which Stahl said she was ‘surprised’ by.

She also said that another of their cameramen had their cell phone taken away for about two and a half hours by a member of the president’s security team.

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