Twitter Craze: #NeverThreatenAnIranian

Talks became heated as foreign ministers from Iran and the world's six major powers met in Vienna to push towards a final nuclear deal. After E.U. foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said that talks should end if Iran does not want a deal, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reportedly said, "Never try to threaten the Iranians." Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov added, "nor the Russians." At the time, negotiators were allegedly discussing whether to lift a U.N. arms embargo on Iran. Both Russia and Iran support removing the ban.

Zarif reportedly responded to press surrounding the story by stating that Mogherini "has always had a very positive and constructive role in the negotiations and our relationship has been governed by mutual respect." But the incident prompted Iranians to start a new hashtag on Twitter, #NeverThreatenAnIranian. The following is a sample of tweets that used the hashtag.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Translation: "Never threaten an Iranian, especially Zarif."

The picture of Zarif was taken during a verbal dispute with an Iranian lawmaker in May. Click here for more information.