Move FM Global News

TEHRAN, Iran – The Iran foreign affairs ministry has responded to recent calls by U.S. officials, particularly by the U.S. National Security Council spokesperson, that Iran should meet diplomacy with diplomacy.

“Iran responds to diplomacy with diplomacy, and to prressure with resistance,” Iranian foreign affairs ministry spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi said Sunday.

“However, it appears that in the lexicon of American authorities, diplomacy means sanctions and economic terrorism,” he said.

“Thus far we have not seen anything other than illegal sanctions and economic war and terrorism from the U.S. government to respond to,” he added.

Separately, on Friday Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the anniversary of the 1987 chemical attack on the Iranian city of Sardasht, pointed out Western involvement.

“We’ll never forget that Western world supported and armed Saddam,” he said.

“On June 28, we commemorate the horrific chemical attack on our civilians in Sardasht, Iran. We’ll never forget that Western world supported and armed Saddam – even with chemical weapons. The UN Security Council never condemned his gassing of our people. We persevered then, and will now,” he posted on his official Twitter page.