The US special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism has decried remarks by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, describing them as “unacceptable and dangerous.”

In a tweet on Thursday, Deborah Lipstadt said, “We denounce this continued, egregious antisemitism,” adding that “This rhetoric is unacceptable – not to mention dangerous – especially from a head of state.”

Calling on the Islamic Republic to end its antisemitic stance towards the world, she said, “It must cease.”

She was replying to a tweet by Khamenei’s official account who said a day earlier, July 27, that described the Western powers as “mafia,” noting that “At the top of this mafia stand the prominent Zionist merchants, and the politicians obey them. The US is their showcase, and they’re spread out everywhere.”

His remarks came as tensions have been simmering between Iran and Israel in the recent weeks with Israel making alliances with the regional countries against the Islamic Republic and Tehran claiming that it has dealt severe blows to Israel without mentioning any concrete event. 

Earlier in the week, Israel’s envoy to the United Nations Gilad Erdan told Iran International that Iran is enriching uranium almost to military-grade, noting that “This is a clear threat to the security of our region and to the whole world. It needs to be addressed by this Security Council, and this Council is silent.”