Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued this statement on Iran’s al-Quds Day rallies on Friday, where crowds chanted “death to Israel” and “down with America.”

Chairman Royce said: “As negotiations continue in Vienna, back home in Tehran the regime and its supporters have taken to the streets. Tens of thousands are marching in cities across Iran in the annual ‘Quds Day’ rallies, chanting ‘death to the Little Satan, Israel,’ and ‘death to the Big Satan, the United States.’ 

“It’s nearly 100 degrees in Tehran, but the crowds are undeterred. A fireman was seen standing on top of his truck, cooling down the crowd with his hose while shouting ‘Death to America!’ They are burning Israel’s flag, and one banner — reminiscent of Nazi propaganda — has the Star of David designed into the face of an ‘evil Jew,’  wearing a skullcap with America’s stars and stripes.

“These rallies are a mass spectacle of racist propaganda, but they are no mere sideshow. This is business as usual for the Supreme Leader, with the enthusiastic support of the so-called ‘moderates’ in the Iranian regime, including President Hassan Rouhani, who was in attendance, and Foreign Minister Javad Zarif.

“The Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement to mark al-Quds Day, calling for ‘resistance’ as the only way for the Palestinians to ‘liberate their motherland.’ It doesn’t take much to figure out that Iran is once again calling for the annihilation of Israel.  Iran’s elite ‘Quds Force’ has transferred funds to Hamas to rebuild a network of tunnels from Gaza to attack Israel and replenish the terrorist group’s medium-range missile arsenal. 

“I hope the Obama Administration pays attention to these murderous statements and understands why so many worry that the negotiating concessions being offered would put Iran on a glide path to a nuclear weapons capability.”

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