A senior Iranian diplomat warned regional states that the anti-Iranian comments made by American officials are nothing more than an excuse for huge bills for the sales of more arms.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh dismissed the hostile remarks by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who has claimed recently during the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain that all options would be open against Iran.
“I believe that Americans are sending expensive bills to certain regional countries with their comments. Those are sentences and words preceding a bill, otherwise they are worth nothing. The United States is probably seeking to sell more arms,” he said, Tasnim News Agency reported.
He advised regional countries to avoid “such bargains” with the US.
In comments at the International Institute for Strategic Studies Manama Dialogue 2021 in Bahrain on November 20, Austin said the US remains committed to preventing Iran from gaining what he called a nuclear weapon.
“We remain committed to a diplomatic outcome of the nuclear issue. But if Iran isn’t willing to engage seriously, then we will look at all the options necessary to keep the United States secure.”
