Well, this made my day:
In what can only be viewed as a notable departure from the country’s recent stance towards Israel, the Iranian government has tweeted its greetings to Jews celebrating their new year.
Jews are today celebrating Rosh Hashanah, a moveable feast. Marking the occasion, Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Islamic Republic’s foreign minister, tweeted: “Happy Rosh Hashanah.”
Christine Pelosi – daughter of Nancy Pelosi, the minority leader in the US House of Representatives – responded with a reminder of Iran’s alleged Holocaust denial. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the country’s president until this year, notoriously said that the atrocities of the Holocaust were exaggerated and that the “Israeli regime” should be “wiped from the map.”
Marking an even more ostentatious rejection of the former leadership, Mr Zarif – a US-educated career diplomat – replied: “Iran never denied it. The man who was perceived to be denying it is now gone. Happy New Year.”
Such a simple and welcome and needed gesture! At least someone has the good sense to tone it down.
In other news, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced that the foreign ministry will henceforth conduct nuclear negotiations with outside parties. Previously, those negotiations have been handled by the Supreme National Security Council, which is appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. These are encouraging signs coming at a perilous time.