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Kerry remarks on Iran amateurish, not realistic: Porter

347924_John Kerry

A well-known American historian and investigative journalist says the recent remark by the US secretary of state about the possibility of military option against Iran is “egregious” and “amateurish” and cannot be deemed realistic.

“I think the comment by Secretary of State John Kerry over military option on Iran is quite egregious in a sense that it’s not really considered a realistic option,” said Gareth Porter in an interview with Press TV on Sunday.

The top US diplomat, in an interview with the website of Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television channel on Thursday, said that if Tehran refuses to comply with its commitments over the Geneva nuclear agreement, “the military option of the United States is ready and prepared to do what it would have to do.”

Porter added that in his view the remarks are made as “a sop to the extremists” in the United States and pro-Israeli lobbyists who are pushing for a sanctions bill against Iran in Congress. He noted that those groups “are happy” to push the US to a “military confrontation” with Iran.

He went on to say that “this is not the policy” perused by the administration of President Obama.

“This is more sound and fury than a serious threat,” added Porter who is also an author and policy analyst specializing in US national security policy.

“But it think it is quite out of place in the context of trying to hold serious negotiations with Iran. I think it is a very amateurish move by Secretary of State John Kerry.”

The Islamic Republic described the comments as “undiplomatic”. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said the remarks are in violation of international law and the UN charter.

The commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps also responded to the remarks. Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari said that Iran’s power to retaliate in case of any US attack is beyond the comprehension of American officials.

He added that Kerry should beware that a face-to-face battle with the United States is what revolutionaries across the world have been yearning for.

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