Iran hits out at US after Trump nuclear weapons comment
Foreign Minister Javad Zarif insists Tehran is not seeking nuclear weapons, accuses US of causing regional tensions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has hit out at the United States after PresidentDonald Trump said Washington was not looking for "regime change" in Iran but was only interested in preventing Tehran from getting nuclear weapons.
In a Twitter post on Monday, Zarif insisted Iran was not seeking nuclear weapons and accused the US, which has recently beefed up its military presence in the Middle East, of causing regional tensions and "hurting the Iranian people".
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "long ago said we're not seeking nuclear weapons - by issuing a fatwa (edict) banning them", Zarif tweeted.
{Ayatollah @khamenei_ir long ago said we're not seeking nuclear weapons—by issuing a fatwa (edict) banning them.#B_Team's #EconomicTerrorism is hurting the Iranian people & causing tension in the region. Actions—not words—will show whether or not that's @realDonaldTrump's intent
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) May 27, 2019}
His comments came after Trump said on Monday during a trip to Japan that a deal with Iran on its nuclear programme was possible, crediting economic sanctions for curbing activities Washington has said are behind a spate of attacks in the Middle East.