Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi during an interview. (Iranian Presidency/AFP)
Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi gave ambiguous answers to a question about the Holocaust during a recent interview with Western media CBS News.
Speaking with US reporter Lesley Stahl on CBS’s “60 Minutes,” Raisi was asked whether he believes the Holocaust, which was responsible for the death of six million Jews, in fact happened.
"Historical events should be investigated by researchers and historians," Raisi replied, adding that "there are some signs that [the Holocaust] happened. If so, they should allow it to be investigated and researched."
Stahl then said: “So you’re not sure? I’m getting that you’re not sure.” Raisi did not clarify his answer.
When asked if he believed the Holocaust happened, Iranian President Raisi told Lesley Stahl, “There are some signs that it happened. If so, they should allow it to be investigated and researched.” https://t.co/CChTRxBFcr pic.twitter.com/7ZSBEknrh1
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) September 19, 2022
The question was followed by another about the president's opinion on Israel's right to existence. Raisi responded by accusing the US of supporting and helping to establish the "false regime."
"The people of Palestine are the reality, this is the right of the people of Palestine who are forced to leave their houses and motherland," Raisi said.
Iran's regime has cast doubt over the Holocaust on multiple occasions. Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad previously made statements "questioning the scale of the Holocaust, or whether it had even happened at all," according to the BBC.