Rabbi Gerald Skolnik, president of the Rabbinical Assembly, introduces Vice President Joe Biden before his speech May 8. Photo: Eric Bern Studio.

Addressing the Rabbinical Assembly National Convention in Atlanta on May 8, Vice President Joe Biden deflected blame for the continuation of Iran’s nuclear program away from the Islamic Republic.

“When we took office [in 2009], let me remind you, there was virtually no international pressure on Iran,” Biden said. “We were the problem. We were diplomatically isolated in the world, in the region, in Europe.”

Matt Brooks, executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, called Biden’s remark “outrageous.”

“Iran was the problem then and it is the problem now,” Brooks said in a statement. “It’s foolishly misguided for the vice president to blame anyone, or any country, other than Iran.”

Biden also said Israel can decide for itself whether or not to strike Iran.

“If Israel made the conclusion that Iran was close to becoming nuclear, we would not tell them what to do,” Biden said.