WASHINGTON
The U.S. remains concerned about Iranian anti-Semitism and attitudes toward Israel, the White House said Tuesday.
The remarks were prompted by media reports earlier Tuesday that claimed a senior foreign affairs adviser to the Iranian parliament said Israel “should be annihilated” – just days the UK reopened its embassy in Tehran.
The White House was asked if the views of Hussein Sheikholeslam validated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's opposition to a deal on Tehran’s nuclear program that was reached last month between world powers and Iran.
White House spokesman Eric Schultz said the U.S.’s concerns with Iran does not end with the nuclear deal. Those issues include Iran’s activities in the region and its “anti-Semitism” expressed about Israel.
"So our objection and concerns about that conduct, that language, remains as strong today as it did months ago," Schultz said.
The nuclear agreement is strongly opposed by Israel and Netanyahu had described it as a "historic mistake”.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warned Israel that it could find itself more isolated and more blamed by the international community if the deal did not gain the approval of U.S. lawmakers.
Congressional approval is needed in order to implement the agreement.
