FM Spokeswoman Raps Kerryˈs Anti-Iran Statements

Tehran, Jan 26, IRNA – Iran strongly criticized the recent statements of US Secretary of State John Kerry against the Islamic Republic. Kerry had repeated Washington’s rhetoric, saying that the “military option” against Iran “is ready” if Tehran does not abide by the commitments it made under the Geneva nuclear deal. “The military option of the United States is ready and prepared to do what it would have to do,” Kerry told Al-Arabiya on Thursday. ˈThese statements (by Kerry) are for consumption of a group of audience of a specific media in the region, but in the meantime it is the violation of international law and the charter of the United Nations,ˈ Afkham said. Astonishingly, the remarks by Kerry came just four days after the Geneva nuclear deal went into force, and inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency closely watched and verified the implementation of the deal on the part of Iran. Kerry’s remarks were improper, ill-timed, unexpected, undiplomatic, irresponsible, surprising, discouraging and more importantly a blow to the trust. Some analysts argue that Kerry may have made such remarks to appease hardliners in the U.S. and Israel who oppose the nuclear deal with Iran. Even if it so, Kerry’s statement came as a blow to the efforts to build trust between Tehran and Washington and sent a disappointing signal to Iran, the United States’ partners on the 5+1 group, and the world as a whole./end