Iran slams US for urging policy shift in second Rouhani term

An Iranian top army General on Sunday rubbished US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's comments urging a policy shift in Tehran's conduct during President Hassan Rouhani's second term, Tasnim news agency reported.

"The only way to peace in the Middle East is a pullout of the US forces from the region," Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Brig. Gen. Massoud Jazayeri said.

During his Saudi Arabia visit, Tillerson on Saturday said he hoped Rouhani's re-election would prompt changes in Tehran's approach to "terrorism and human rights".

Tillerson urged Iran's re-elected President to dismantle the alleged "network of terrorism" and to end ballistic missile tests.

He made the remarks at a news conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir in Riyadh.

In his reaction, Jazayeri urged the US for, what he called, an end to the "aggressive and terrorist operations against independent states" by the assistance of "reactionary regimes" in the region.

Besides, no factor could hinder Iran's defence programmes, he asserted, describing the boost of Iran's missile defence systems as a top priority for the Islamic republic.

--IANS

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