Iran’s Supreme Leader has used a Christmas message to denounce “arrogant powers”, blaming them for the oppression of people around the world.
Ayatollah Khamenei used the “birth of Jesus” for his Twitter blast:
The birth of #Jesus marked the birth of mercy &blessings in world for people drowning in darkness, ignorance, corruption, deprivation &discrimination, due to domination of arrogant powers &pressures of degrading systems.
Jesus' message was to save humanity from all this.
25/12/85— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) December 24, 2017
President Hassan Rouhani was more charitable in his Christmas greetings to the Pope and other world leaders. He expressed hope for the eradication of discrimination and poverty, and referred to the duty to cooperate for a “beautiful world full of peace, tranquility, [and] moderation” free from “violence and extremism”.
Rouhani said he was praying that God will bestow “happiness and prosperity” upon all nations and their governments.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also preferred a positive approach:
"The angels said, Mary, God gives you glad-tidings of a Word from Him whose name is Christ, Jesus, son of Mary; highly honored in this world and the next" Quran 3:45
A very happy and peaceful Christmas to all. May Christ's universal message of peace be embraced in the coming year— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) December 23, 2017
