Raisi accuses West of hypocrisy, cites Israeli nukes, treatment of Palestinian women

Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Iran’s president accuses the West of hypocrisy, contrasting their treatment of Iran with that of Israel.

Raisi blasts what he said was lopsided scrutiny of Iran’s nuclear activities while other nations’ nuclear programs remain secret, a reference to Israel, which does not confirm or deny such a program.

He also cites Israel when defending Iran’s treatment of women.

Raisi accuses the West of “double standards” on women’s rights as his country is gripped by protests over the death of a woman arrested by religious police.

“We have this double standard where attention is solely focused on one side and not all,” the hardline cleric tells the United Nations General Assembly, pointing to deaths of indigenous women in Canada and Israeli actions in the West Bank and Gaza.

Raisi’s speech comes a politically sensitive time in Iran. Protesters have clashed with police in recent days in cities across the country, including the capital, over the death of the 22-year-old woman, who was being held by the morality police for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic’s strictly enforced dress code.