Iranian Crown Prince: It's my duty to honor Holocaust victims

 

Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, who is visiting Israel, on Monday evening attended the official state ceremony marking the start of Holocaust Remembrance Day at Jerusalem’s Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Speaking to i24NEWS after the ceremony, the Crown Prince said that the Iranian regime “doesn’t represent the Iranian people” and as Tehran doesn’t acknowledge the Holocaust, he felt it was his duty to show his support for Israel on behalf of his nation that has 2,500-years-long relations with the Jewish people.

"It's a Biblical relationship that our two countries have had over centuries and today when we have the regime that denies the Holocaust has ever occurred it's my duty to be here representing my fellow compatriots, to honor the victims of the Holocaust and pay my respects to this nation and its people," he said.

Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel earlier on Monday welcomed Pahlavi upon his arrival at Ben Gurion Airport.

"I congratulate the Iranian Crown Prince on his important visit to Israel as the most senior Iranian personality to ever visit here. We appreciate the Crown Prince's expression of solidarity with the citizens of Israel in the face of the severe terrorist attacks perpetrated by Iran, as well as his visit to Yad Vashem on the occasion of Holocaust Remembrance Day in order to sympathize with the Jewish people, in contrast to Iran's rulers who deny the Holocaust and encourage antisemitism. Together, through a common vision, we will take the first step in building bridges and collaborations between the two peoples," said Gamliel.

Gamliel will host Pahlavi during his visit to Israel, with the aim of creating a bridge between Israel and the Iranian people, and expressing joint opposition to the Ayatollah regime. The heir to the throne promotes discourse on the human rights situation in Iran and supports a democratic Iranian leadership.