Italian Museum Covers Roman Nude Statues During Iran President’s Visit

It was the first time since Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution that an Iranian leader had visited any Western country.

“The genitals on display offend the Iranian president…’I think this is their premier’…’Welcome to Italy!'”.

Before leaving Rome for Paris, Rouhani got a guided tour of Rome’s most iconic monument, the Colosseum.

Italy is one of Iran’s top trading partners. Bodyguards, however, kept them at a distance from the Iranian leader and his delegation.

A spokesman for the city of Rome told the newspaper that any decision to cover up statues was made by the prime minister’s office.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said there had been no prior discussion between Italy and Iran over Italy’s decision to obscure nude sculptors during a visit to Rome’s Capitoline Museums on Monday.

Italy’s anti-immigration Northern League denounced what it called “submission to a culture which we don’t share”.

No wine was served at the official dinner.

A joint press conference is planned after Rouhani’s meeting with Hollande on Thursday, the French presidency said.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Rome, Monday.

While saying extremist violence must be condemned, “All religions are to be respected, their books and the millions of people who follow the faith”, Rouhani said.

A spokesman for Mr Renzi did not immediately return a request for comment.

Italian hospitality for the visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has stretched to covering up nude statues. The JCPOA, also known as the Iran nuclear deal, is an agreement signed in Vienna on July 14, 2015, between Iran and the United States, UK, Russia, China and Germany.

He told the audience, mainly comprised of the Italian journalists, that he would certainly employ that “key” for de-escalation if it were in Tehran.

After visiting the Colosseum, Rouhani next heads to France.

Rouhani dismissed the controversy over the nude statues as a “journalistic issue” on Wednesday.

Francis was asked past year about the Charlie Hebdo attacks and suggested that a violent reaction could be expected when someone’s faith was insulted.