RUTHFULLY YOURS

The ink has not yet dried on the nuclear agreement with Iran, and European leaders are already knocking on Tehran’s door, waiting patiently to be welcomed by the leaders of the Islamic republic.

Not, heaven forbid, to protest against the cries of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” that were heard in the streets of the Iranian capital only a week ago, and not even to urge the Iranians to end their support for terrorist organizations throughout the Middle East. No, they are hurrying to Tehran to ensure their places in Iran’s re-emerging market, as hundreds of billions of dollars are expected to be injected into the country’s economy with the lifting of international sanctions.

Last week, the German vice chancellor and economy minister visited Tehran. Next week, the EU foreign policy chief is expected to visit. In the meantime, the French president had a telephone conversation with his new friend, the president of Iran, in which the two decided to work on strengthening ties between their respective countries. Presumably, at least a few European politicians will dutifully express their regret to the Iranians about the repeated calls for the destruction of Israel that ring through Tehran. But the regret will rapidly be brushed aside as they resume talking business.

One can understand the efforts by the American administration to protect the nuclear agreement signed two weeks ago by world powers and Iran, as well as its claim that there is no other way to stop Iran’s nuclearization. After all, even the American administration, the motivating force behind the deal, does not purport to believe that Iran is likely to change its ways and to become a peaceful country that contributes to stability in the region now that a deal has been reached.

On the contrary, the U.S. administration stresses that the threats Iran poses to Washington’s allies in the Middle East have not diminished, and it appears to be increasingly concerned about the commitment from Iranian leaders to destroy Israel. We can only hope that this American position will remain unchanged even if Iran decides to change lanes and try to foster a warmer relationship with the United States.

One can understand, if not accept, the U.S. administration’s efforts to explain the nuclear deal as the lesser evil. However, it is impossible to understand or accept this fawning pilgrimage and clearance-sale excitement on the part of the Europeans as they approach the Iranian leaders: President Hassan Rouhani, who took part in the mass demonstrations in Tehran a week ago where the crowds called out “Death to Israel,” and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who explained that those chants reflected the Iranian people’s will.

The minimum we could have expected from European leaders was to declare unequivocally that as long as calls to destroy Israel are heard in Tehran, Iran would not be a partner in dialogue, and certainly not a business partner, for Europe. There is, after all, a difference between a nuclear agreement seen by the West as a necessary evil, and economic contracts for billions of dollars prompting European leaders to make the pilgrimage to Tehran.

But Europe is Europe. It should have been extra-sensitive to calls for “Death to Israel” rather than make peace with them, even if experts say such calls “don’t represent anything” and that Rouhani is still seeking reconciliation. There are things you cannot accept, no matter what. There are things that you cannot ignore or protest weakly.

As for Europe’s moral standards, there is no need to be concerned. Europe’s morality is working overtime, but only when it comes to perceived Israeli transgressions. After all, European countries donate tens of millions of euros every year to NGOs and organizations that operate in Israel, in the name of democracy and morality. Maybe it would have been better if some of that money had been used to convince the Iranians to stop calling for the murder of Jews in the streets of Tehran.