(TheLastPatriotNews.com) – In a new international embarrassment for President Joe Biden, his administration has taken to defend the indefensible step that it took of sending condolences for the recent death of Ebrahim Raisi, the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the nation recognized by the US as a leading global sponsor of terrorism.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday regarding the recent death of Raisi in a helicopter crash.
Blinken explained that extending condolences to Iran was a “normal course of business,” as cited by Breitbart News.
The State Department released a statement of condolences, which did not acknowledge Raisi’s brutal history, including the executions of thousands of political prisoners in the 1980s and the recent prosecution of pro-democracy activists, the report points out.
Raisi was known as a hardliner who suppressed protests by women, including those led by Mahsa Amini.
These actions resulted in what Breitbart described as “some of the most violent repression of dissidents caught on camera in Iran.”
During the hearing, Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) questioned Blinken about the State Department’s condolences.
Blinken reiterated that issuing such statements was the “normal course of business” and did not alter the facts about Raisi or U.S. policy towards Iran.
Later, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) also questioned Blinken about the condolence statement. Blinken conceded that “the Iranian people are probably better off” without Raisi.
When asked if the State Department’s statement had reflected that sentiment, Blinken falsely claimed that it had.
The complete statement from the State Department read:
“The United States expresses its official condolences for the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, and other members of their delegation in a helicopter crash in northwest Iran. As Iran selects a new president, we reaffirm our support for the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
Sen. Barrasso expressed strong disapproval of Raisi, stating he was “responsible for death, rape, torture — he’s a sworn enemy of the free world.”
Barrasso labeled Raisi the “Butcher of Tehran” and criticized the State Department’s condolences as “a terrible mistake.”
In a subsequent testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) remarked that, unlike the State Department, he extended condolences to the victims of the late Iranian president.
Copyright 2024, TheLastPatriotNews.com
