FM Slams Trump for Anti-Iran Remarks

Rasa - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif strongly blasted US president for his recent allegations against the Islamic Republic, and said Donald Trump's remarks are aimed at taking advantage from the Riyadh government.

News ID: 429815

Date: 22 May 2017 - 22:51

RNA - "President Trump's recent anti-Tehran remarks were aimed at milking Saudi Arabia," Zarif wrote on his Twitter page late Sunday.

"Iran -- fresh from real elections -- attacked by @POTUS in that bastion of democracy & moderation. Foreign Policy or simply milking KSA of $480 billion?" the Iranian foreign minister said.

The Iranian foreign minister pointed to a recent arms deal between the US and Saudi Arabia worth almost $110 billion immediately, and set to reach to $350 billion over 10 years, plus a series of other deals, and said, "Saudi Arabia is US arms dealers’ most important client and Washington’s number one ally in the Middle East."

In relevant remarks earlier on Sunday, Zarif underlined that his country is prepared to cooperate with the regional and trans-regional states in campaign against terrorism and efforts to establish peace in Syria.

"Iran is fully ready to cooperate with the regional and trans-regional powers in the fight against terrorism and extremism and restoration of stability and tranquility in Syria," Zarif wrote in al-Arabi al-Jadid newspaper, one day after President Hassan Rouhani was reelected for a new 4-year term.

"Iran's behavior in such cooperation will follow the permanent principle of rejecting hegemony and dismissing acceptance of hegemony," he added.

Zarif underscored that Iran respects all the regional states' territorial integrity and independent sovereignty, adding that the long-term interests of all the world countries is met by fighting against extremism and terrorism.

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