EU Foreign Policy Chief Condemns Iranian Pledge to Support Any Entity That Fights Israel

The High Representative of the European Union Josep Borrell on Thursday condemned a pledge by Iran's supreme leader to support any country that will fight Israel, and stressed that Israel's security is of "paramount importance to the EU."

On Wednesday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran will support any nation or group that fights Israel, several hours after he published a cartoon calling for a "final solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"We will support and assist any nation or any group anywhere who opposes and fights the Zionist regime, and we do not hesitate to say this," Khamenei said in a post on his official English language Twitter account.

This comes amid recent reports of a cyber warfare tit-for-tat between Israel and Iran.

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Borrell said he condemned "in the strongest possible terms the call by the Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei to fight Israel. This is a threat to international peace and security. The security of Israel is of paramount importance and the EU will stand at its side."

Netanyahu said in his response to the poster that Khamenei's threats to carry out the "final solution" against Israel brings to mind the Nazi "final solution" plan to annihilate the Jewish People.

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“He should know that any regime that threatens to destroy the State of Israel faces a similar danger,” Netanyahu added.

Pompeo tweeted that “The United States condemns Supreme Leader Khamenei's disgusting and hateful anti-Semitic remarks. They have no place on Twitter or on any other social media platform. We know Khamenei’s vile rhetoric does not represent the Iranian people’s tradition of tolerance.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif tweeted Thursday in response to the backlash, highlighting the words "resistance until referendum" written on the poster. "Disgusting that those whose civilization found a "Final Solution" in gas chambers attack those who seek a real solution at the ballot box, through a REFERENDUM," read the tweet.

Following their comments, Khamenei tweeted that he opposes the “Zionism regime,’ and not the Jewish people.