In the summer, Iranian tourism minister Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei said that Iranians were friends with the Israeli people, despite the conflict between their governments.
This has sparked off a row with Supreme leader Ayatollah Khameni, who made it clear he had no sympathy for Israelis: "They are responsible for usurping houses, territory, farmlands and businesses.
They are fighters at the disposal of Zionist operatives."