Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi reaffirmed Iran's "logical and transparent" policies, saying the Islamic Republic would never change its approach to regional developments under any administration in the United States.
Qasemi made the remark in an interview with ISNA published on Friday in response to "incorrect and unfounded" claims made by US President Donald Trump against Iran in an interview on Tuesday with four members of the Wall Street Journal’s White House team in the Oval Office.
In his interview, Trump claimed that Iran is "not the same country" since he took office and after he "terminated" the landmark nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, signed between Iran and major powers in 2015.
Qasemi dismissed the US president's claims and said Trump apparently does not have information about regional conditions, the history and characteristics of its peoples as well as the developments in recent years.
"Iran is undoubtedly the same country with all its features. It is exactly the same country which has been before Trump's presidency without any change in its regional policies," he said.
The US president announced in May that Washington was pulling out of the nuclear agreement, which lifted nuclear-related sanctions against Tehran in exchange for restrictions on Tehran's nuclear program.
A first round of American sanctions took effect in August, targeting Iran's access to the US dollar, metals trading, coal, industrial software and auto sector. A second round, slated for Nov. 4, will be targeting Iran's energy sector and financial transactions.
Positive Role
Qasemi noted that Trump must have learnt that Iran does not seek to take over any country and has not attacked any nation.
The Iranian spokesperson emphasized that Tehran's regional policies are to fight extremism and terrorism, make efforts to establish peace and security in the region and help boost development and growth in all Middle East countries.
He also pointed to Iran's presence in Syria and said it came at the request of the Syrian government to help fight terrorism and give advisory support to the Arab country.
"Iran has no operative military forces in any country, although Iran's advisory forces have played a fundamental role in helping the Syrian government in the fight against terrorism," Qasemi said.
Iran's top security official said in May that the country will maintain its advisory role in Syria and continue to support resistance groups.
"As long as the threat of terrorism exists in Syria and the country's legitimate government insists on Iran's advisory presence, we will stay in Syria," Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said.
The spokesman also said Iran would make efforts to defend itself in the face of ill-wishers and opponents based on its national interests and in accordance with all international regulations.
"Iran would stand by all regional governments and nations interested in cooperation with the Islamic Republic to stabilize peace and security in the region and fight terrorism and extremism," he added.
Qasemi urged the US president to learn about "the real issues in the region" in view of the ongoing developments and to review the history once again.
