EU threatens sanctions on Iran

EUROPEAN leaders threatened sanctions against Iran for its president’s remarks about Israel and the Holocaust, even as the regime’s interior minister said yesterday the widely condemned comments were “misunderstood” by Western governments.

Leaders at a European Union summit in Brussels, Belgium, will adopt a statement condemning Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s recent comments describing the Holocaust as a “myth” and calling for Israel to be “wiped off the map.”

“These comments are wholly unacceptable and have no place in civilised political debate,” the draft statement said.

EU leaders warned Tehran they will review the diplomatic options for possible sanctions because of Iran’s recent “provocative political moves.” The statement comes days before EU envoys resume talks with Iran on its nuclear program.

Meanwhile, Iran Interior Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi told The Associated Press that Ahmadinejad’s comments were “misunderstood” by the West.

He said: “Actually the case has been misunderstood. (Ahmadinejad) did not mean to raise this matter.”

Ahmadinejad “wanted to say that if others harmed the Jewish community and created problems for the Jewish community, they have to pay the price themselves. People like the Palestinian people or other nations should not pay the price (for it).”

“A historical incident has occurred. Correct or not correct. We don’t want to launch research or carry out historical investigation about it,” he said.