Jerusalem ? Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice gave her strongest rebuke yet on Sunday to the renewed hardline Islamic leadership of Iran, saying that “no civilized nation” can call for the annihilation of another.

Rice was referring to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s remark last month that Israel is a “disgraceful blot” that should be “wiped off the map.” Her words drew applause from politicians, diplomats and others gathered for a U.S.-Israeli symposium.

“No civilized nation should have a leader who wishes or hopes or desires or considers it a matter of policy to express that … another country should be pushed into the sea,” Rice said, speaking slowly and sternly.