Iran: Khatami criticizes President Ahmadinejad's remark on Israel

Al Bawaba:

Posted: 31-10-2005

Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami criticized his successor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for the latter's recent statement that Israel should be "wiped of the map." Khatami made no direct mention of Ahmadinejad's remarks, but alluded to the comment, saying, "We should not say things that create economic and political problems in the world."

Khatami, a pro-reform cleric who rigorously sought to improve relations between Iran and the outside world throughout his leadership, added that "The worst is to criticize liberalism using fascist values and principles in the name of Islam," according to AFP. Khatami's comments were made at a recent gathering at the Koranic museum in Tehran.

The former president added that, "We are not on an international quest and we are not here to make other governments conform with our position."

Ahmadinejad, considered a hardliner in comparison to his predecessor Khatami, said in a statement this past summer that, "liberal thought justifies and recognizes all abnormalities and deviations."

His recent statement regarding Israel has elicited widespread condemnation, including that of the UN Security Council.