After the 2003 Bam earthquake in Iran , the Iranian government rebuffed Israel 's offer of assistance . On April 8 , 2005 , Khatami sat near Iranian-born Israeli President Moshe Katsav during the funeral of Pope John Paul II because of alphabetical order . Later , Katsav claimed that he shook hands and spoke with Khatami . Katsav himself is in origin an Iranian Jew , and from a part of Iran close to Khatami 's home ; he stated that they had spoken about their home province . That would make this incident the first official political contact between Iran and Israel since diplomatic ties were severed in 1979 . However , after he returned to Iran , Khatami was subject to harsh criticism from conservatives for having ' recognised ' Israel by speaking to its president . Subsequently , the country 's state-run media reported that Khatami strongly denied shaking hands and chatting with Katsav
2003 Bam earthquake
2003 Bam earthquake
Presidency of Mohammad Khatami