Comments made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about Iranian citizens' freedom during a recent interview have caused Iranians worldwide to point and laugh.
During a question-and-answer with the BBC's Persian television, the Prime Minister spoke on the need for Iran to close its uranium enrichment program, Reuters reported. But his opinion on the project was dimmed by his sentiments on the Iranian government and the freedom it blocks its people from enjoying.
"I think if the Iranian people had freedom, they would wear jeans, listen to Western music, and have free elections," Netanyahu said during the interview, which was aired with Farsi dubbing late Saturday.
Iranians were insulted, albeit amused, Reuters reported - the statement reportedly stung Persians, since women in Iran are allowed to wear jeans. Denim is widely worn, despite the fact that Tehran females must keep their hair covered and don loose wears. Western tunes are largely outlawed, but people usually listen to it in their households.
Hundreds of Iranians took to Twitter on Sunday, posting photos of themselves wearing jeans with commentary that openly poked fun at the Israeli Prime Minister's critique. Soon, #iranjeans and #denimdiplomacy started making the rounds online. One of the most popular images that has gone viral since Sunday depicts the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei with an Iranian youth wearing a pair of dark denim jeans.
Best #jeans photo so far: with #Iran SL. Via @rooznameh pic.twitter.com/ZRQNaaD7Of
— Negar Mortazavi (@NegarMortazavi) October 6, 2013
Another picture shows Netanyahu running a red line through a picture of jeans - an image doctored from last year's General Assembly of the United Nations.
Mr. @netanyahu , you and Ahmadinejad never cease to amuse us. cheers! pic.twitter.com/s8ocFViwKs — Sepidar Karimi (@Tooskaaa) October 7, 2013
"Iranian women walk freely with nuclear jeans in Semnan, Iran, much to Netanyahu's horror," user @Zinvor tweeted, along with a photo of two women wearing long tunics and, yes, jeans.
Iranian women walk freely with nuclear jeans in Semnan, #Iran much to Netanyahu's horror. pic.twitter.com/s6ghFcUiut — Serge (@Zinvor) October 6, 2013
Twitter is blocked in Iran, but most users circumvent the online wall by using a VPN, or virtual private network - software that uses other computers in different countries gain entry to certain websites.
During the interview with BBC, Netanyahu also said that Iran and Israel had a "deep friendship into modern times," but that Iran's current theocratic government broke their relationship. He questioned the country's social media censorship, along with the election that brought Rohani to his position of power.
"I would welcome a genuine rapprochement, a genuine effort to stop the nuclear program - not a fake one. Not 'harfe pooch,'" Netanyahu told Reuters, employing a Farsi term that means "empty words."
