Socialist International condemns statement by President of Iran

The Socialist International condemns in the strongest possible terms the call by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for Israel to be "wiped off the map". His statement was deeply offensive, dangerous and completely unacceptable.

At a time when the situation in the Middle East has reached another delicate point, this ugly outburst from Iran threatens to undermine the hopes of people throughout the region for a more peaceful and democratic future. The world must let Iran know that it will not let such statements stand.

The Socialist International, which has always promoted peace based on principles of common and collective security, international law and the United Nations Charter, calls upon all in the international community to unite in adamantly rejecting the statement by Iran’s president and to take the steps necessary to ensure that Iran acts responsibly as a nation of the world, in both its actions and its words.