Iran Strongly Rejects Hammond’s Remarks about Iran’s Israel Policy

Iran dismissed British Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond’s recent remarks that Tehran has changed its policies on Israel, stressing that the Zionist regime had no place in diplomatic talks between Tehran and London.

“We have rejected such media hype (before) and during Mr. Hammond’s trip to Iran, we just discussed potentials of bilateral relations, fighting extremism and terrorism, etc.,” Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham told reporters in Tehran on Wednesday.

“There were no talks on the Zionist regime and the report that Iran has changed its position is denied,” she stressed.

After reopening the British embassy in Tehran on Sunday following four years of strained relations between the two countries, Hammond claimed in an interview with the British media that the current Iranian government had displayed a more nuanced approach than its predecessor to a long-running conflict with Israel.

In relevant remarks on Tuesday, Iranian Parliament Speaker’s Adviser for International Affairs Hossein Sheikholeslam blasted Hammond for his interfering remarks, and said Tehran’s positions against Israel have not changed at all.

“Our positions against the usurper Zionist regime have not changed at all; Israel should be annihilated and this is our ultimate slogan,” Sheikholeslam told reporters in Tehran.