Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., July 15, 2008 Tamuz 12, 5768 | | Israel Time: 08:16 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 19:32 13/07/2008
Tehran slams McCain for saying cigarettes could be used to kill Iranians
By DPA
Tags: Iran, U.S., McCain 

Iran on Saturday condemned remarks by U.S. presidential candidate John McCain who said one way of killing Iranians was to export cigarettes to Iran, the country's official news agency IRNA reported.

"We condemn such remarks as ugly and immoral, especially for someone who intends to lead a country claiming civilization," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Husseini said.

McCain last Wednesday joked with reporters about sending Iranians cigarettes. "That's a way of killing them," McCain told a journalist who asked him about reports that U.S. exports, especially cigarettes, to Iran increased tenfold during the current administration of President George W. Bush.
Advertisement
As others around him laughed uncomfortably and his wife Cindy poked him in the back, McCain quickly said: "I meant that as a joke ... as a person who hasn't had a cigarette in 28 years."

Early in his campaign, 71-year-old McCain also "joked" about "bombing Iran" to the tune of the Beach Boys' song "Barbara Ann."

Without officially admitting it, observers say Iran clearly favors Democratic candidate Barack Obama as next U.S. president, especially as he has several times spoken in favor of resuming diplomatic talks with Iran.

Another reason for favoring Obama is his middle name Hussein, which is also the name of the third Shiite Imam who is highly respected in Iran.

Related articles:
  • U.S. exports to Iran shot up even as Bush talked tough on sanctions
  • McCain blasts Obama for saying Iran poses lesser threat than Soviets
  • McCain: Iranian threat to U.S. linked to Hamas, Hezbollah aid
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    History undersea
    Israeli lifeguard stumbles upon ancient relic during morning swim.
    Elections, Hebrew style
    U.S. presidential hopefuls use Hebrew to woo the Jewish community.
      1.   Maybe Khamenie should take "Bill` as middle name 22:05  |  Mark B. 12/07/08
      2.   Aw, poor babies so sensitive 22:06  |  McQueen 12/07/08
      3.   Perhaps McCain is Showing Signs of Senility? 22:18  |  Mr. Know-It-All 12/07/08
      4.   Oh boy, more fun 22:23  |  Donald 12/07/08
      5.   Cigarettes- Weapons of Mass Destruction 22:26  |  jem 12/07/08
      6.   to donald dumb 22:28  |  jem 12/07/08
      7.   The Next Three To Six Months... 22:50  |  Yosemite 12/07/08
      8.   McCain is mentally unfit to lead 22:52  |  american 12/07/08
      9.   Smarter criticism would be better 22:55  |  Quijybo 12/07/08
      10.   That`s Why I`m Voting For Obama 22:59  |  Yosemite 12/07/08
      11.   Waterboarding Ahmadinejad 23:07  |  Yosemite 12/07/08
      12.   #4 Donald, liberalism kills your brain 23:11  |  Bob 12/07/08
      13.   Star candidate? 23:13  |  Faraz 12/07/08
      14.   It`s time to ban tobacco! 23:30  |  Shlomo 12/07/08
      15.   McCain getting his ideas from your talkback Zionists 23:50  |  Chanalau, Tova 12/07/08
      16.   Too bad the civilians are not the ones trying to attack us 23:56  |  Shimon 12/07/08
      17.   Iran favors Obama.... 23:58  |  Nemesis 12/07/08
      18.   The neocons will soon be history 00:23  |  Wendy 13/07/08
      19.   What McCain Said Pales In Comparison To The Iranians` Statements 00:27  |  Laguna Geno 13/07/08
      20.   #12..Chanalau 00:35  |  Nemesis 13/07/08
      21.   #8..Yosemite 00:42  |  Nemesis 13/07/08
      22.   Donald: Not Paying Attention 01:03  |  Tex 13/07/08
      23.   great 01:11  |  K.J 13/07/08
      24.   McCain 01:51  |  Persian Hero 13/07/08
      25.   kill them with cigarettes 02:23  |  conspirate 13/07/08
      26.   Ahmadinejad 02:29  |  Thomas 13/07/08
      27.   Open mouth, insert foot 02:29  |  Aphemia 13/07/08
      28.   Iranian legislators shouted "Death to America" 02:34  |  Realist 13/07/08
      29.   Subtle anti-Obama messages 02:44  |  Bemused 13/07/08
      30.   That might do it 02:59  |  Colin Wright 13/07/08
      31.   re 12 get a life chanalou 05:16  |  Alan the real one 13/07/08
      32.   Nemesis 05:46  |  Yosemite 13/07/08
      33.   What did Shakespeare say? 06:51  |  Michael J 13/07/08
      34.   #17. Aren`t you nice! 07:25  |  ManintheMiddle 13/07/08
      35.   Ugly and immoral? 07:27  |  TC 13/07/08
      36.   #24, Am I missing something? 07:34  |  ManintheMiddle 13/07/08
      37.   American Obesity 08:22  |  Palestinian Brits 13/07/08
      38.   #34 - ManintheMiddle 08:31  |  JES 13/07/08
      39.   Who Cares! Israel Must Use The Neutron Bomb Already! 08:31  |  Ethan 13/07/08
      40.   Reagan made similar jokes and was beloved 08:39  |  dyinglikeflies 13/07/08
      41.   to Yosemite 08:47  |  Susan 13/07/08
      42.   to #5 Jem 08:49  |  Susan 13/07/08
      43.   to #7 Yosemite 08:55  |  Susan 13/07/08
      44.   Wipe them out with Photoshop!!! 09:10  |  ScotGuy 13/07/08
      45.   Susan 09:26  |  Yosemite 13/07/08
      46.   Lucky Strike Cigarettes 10:03  |  Yosemite 13/07/08
      47.   o well...... 10:14  |  ravi 13/07/08
      48.   Remarks miss their point, Ahmedinejad has no humor 10:35  |  Tulip 13/07/08
      49.   to Yosemite 10:43  |  Susan 13/07/08
      50.   US government health warning Smoking kills Iranians 10:43  |  zionist forever 13/07/08
      51.   and we had fun, fun, fun; 10:56  |  Rob of melbourne 13/07/08
      52.   you just cant do it... 11:01  |  Rob of melbourne 13/07/08
      53.   A BLOODTHIRSTY-RACIST ANTI-ARAB, ANTI MUSLIM 11:02  |  indrajaya 13/07/08
      54.   Another American jackass hopes to be President 11:02  |  Clickfool 13/07/08
      55.   Another American jackass hopes to be President 11:02  |  Clickfool 13/07/08
      56.   WHO is forcing Iran to smoke?They are the opium addict capital of 11:38  |  PETER SM 13/07/08
      57.   If some Jews did not have Arabs to hate??? 11:47  |  Labhras 13/07/08
      58.   #38 JES re Maninthemiddle 11:56  |  Labhras 13/07/08
      59.   #52 Indrajaya 12:40  |  H 13/07/08
      60.   Ugly & immoral? from iran? 12:53  |  jonimac 13/07/08
      61.   McCain is an imbecile 12:56  |  Danny 13/07/08
      62.   Iranian upset 13:19  |  Sabra 13/07/08
      63.   This actually helps McCain 13:35  |  ScotGuy 13/07/08
      64.   Clickfool #54 about the beauty of dumbness. 13:41  |  S 13/07/08
      65.   Yosemite: 14:20  |  kay 13/07/08