Iran slams Pompeo's remarks as 'interventionist'

TEHRAN -- Iran's Foreign Ministry on Monday rejected the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's threatening remarks as "absurd and interventionist."

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said that the United States seeks to distract the global attention from its "illegal moves" concerning Iran's nuclear deal by threatening and insulting the Iranian nation.

Despite the United States, Iran has been bound to its international obligations, the statement said.

The existing problems in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Palestine and Afghanistan are the results of the US policies in the region, therefore, "the Americans are not entitled to influence Iran's policies in its own region."

"Over the past four decades, the Islamic republic has resisted the US and its allies' plots and has turned out victorious," he said, adding that likewise, the Islamic republic will abort the US hostile policies in the future as well.

Iran preserves the right to legally sue the United States over its illegal measures and threats, he stressed.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani also dismissed the US threats of imposing the "toughest sanctions" on the Islamic republic, according to Iran's presidential website.

President Hassan Rouhani said that the United States cannot make decisions for Iran or other independent countries in the world.

"All world countries want independence in their decision-making ... and it is not logical that the Americans decide for the world," Rouhani said on Monday following the anti-Iran remarks of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Pompeo said on Monday here that Iran will suffer the toughest sanctions in history from the United States if it does not change the current course.

Pompeo urged Tehran to report to the International Atomic Energy Agency about its nuclear program, end proliferation of its missiles, and stop supporting "terrorist groups" in the Middle East.