Publish Date: 4 October 2016 - 14:52

TEHRAN, Oct. 04 (MNA) – German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said his remarks about Berlin's 'preconditions' for Iran’s stance on Israel have been distorted, Iran’s Cabinet spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Mohammad Bagher Nobakht in his press conference on Tuesday responded to a question about the preconditions set by German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel prior to his arrival in Tehran; “The Islamic Republic of Iran do not need to establish or expand relations with other countries based on any preconditions,” he stressed. “Rather, 'our' precondition for expanding or establishing relations is for the other side to fully respect the great Iranian nation.”

He went on to add, “Iran’s stance on Israel is the same fair, appropriate and thought-out stance which considers the regime as fake and founded by victorious powers after the World War II.”

“The governments that gave rise to this fake regime are complicit in the slaughter of innocent Palestinians and must answer for their crimes before history and God,” he stressed.

“I had a talk with Mr. Gabriel in Tehran and asked him why he made those remarks,” Nobakht said, referring to Gabriel’s recent remarks to weekly news magazine Der Spiegel, as saying ‘Iran could have normal, friendly relations with Germany only when it accepted Israel's right to exist.’

“Mr. Gabriel told me his remarks had been distorted and he had come to Iran without setting any preconditions,” Nobakht said. “He said he had only explained his views to his own people.”

“We told him Germany may have some historical debt, but we consider Israel as a fake regime that commits acts of terror and slaughter,” he said.

Nobakht went on to add, “Gabriel stressed that Israel does not observe human rights and Berlin has no precondition for expanding relations with Tehran.”

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