Because Iran has called for the annihilation of Israel whereas other nuclear powers have not.
If someone threatens you with murder surely you'd do something about it.
Public calls for the annihilation or destruction of Israel have primarily come from certain state and non-state actors in the Middle East, often tied to ideological or political opposition to Israel's existence. Based on available information, the following countries or their leadership have been documented making explicit statements advocating for Israel's destruction or elimination:
- Iran: Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have repeatedly called for Israel's destruction. Khamenei has described Israel as a "cancerous tumor" that must be removed and proposed a plan for its elimination through a referendum excluding Jewish immigrants. Ahmadinejad infamously stated in 2005 that Israel should be "wiped off the map," a phrase later debated for translation accuracy but consistent with Iran's rhetoric. Iranian officials, like Major General Hossein Salami, have also vowed to eliminate Israel, with actions like arming groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah to support this goal.
- Syria: While less explicit in recent years, Syria's government under the Assad regime has historically supported Palestinian militant groups and expressed solidarity with actions against Israel. In 2023, Syria's state media praised the Hamas-led "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation, framing it as resistance against Israel, though not directly calling for annihilation. Syria's alignment with Iran and Hezbollah suggests a continued hostile stance.
- Egypt (historically): In the lead-up to the 1967 Six-Day War, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser made statements calling for the annulment of Israel's existence, associating it with imperialism and vowing to "restore the Arab nation to Palestine." Since the 1979 peace treaty with Israel, Egypt's official stance has shifted, and such rhetoric is no longer prominent.
Non-state actors like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, based in Palestinian territories, have explicitly advocated for Israel's destruction in their charters and public statements, viewing it as a religious and ideological duty. Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based group heavily backed by Iran, also has the annihilation of Israel as a core objective.
Other countries, such as Qatar, Kuwait, and Iraq, have been noted for blaming Israel for regional violence or supporting Palestinian resistance, but they have not explicitly called for its annihilation in the provided sources. Similarly, posts on X mention Qatar alongside Iran but lack concrete evidence of Qatar's leadership making such calls.
No other nations are consistently cited in the provided references as explicitly calling for Israel's annihilation. Some countries, like Libya and Mauritania, have condemned Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocide" or demanded strong measures against it, but this falls short of advocating for the state's destruction. Claims about Russia, Turkey, Sudan, or others attacking Israel often stem from interpretations of biblical prophecy rather than verified state policy.
Note: Rhetoric from leaders does not always reflect official policy or universal sentiment within a country. Historical context, such as Egypt's shift after 1979, shows positions can evolve. Always cross-check claims, especially from X posts, as they may reflect individual opinions rather than state actions.
