Interventionist Remarks Fuel Distrust of US

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman rejected the "interventionist" US call for the release of two dual nationals sentenced to 10 years in prison in Iran, saying it creates further distrust toward the US among Iranians.

Bahram Qasemi was responding to the Tuesday remarks by US State Department Spokesman Mark Toner that called for the release of "unjustly" detained Siamak and Baqer Namazi, and said it affects "the confidence that outside investors, companies, corporations have in investing in Iran."

"Linking Iran's internal issues and verdicts against criminals and spies by independent Iranian courts to the international business environment and [foreign] investment in Iran is an example of unnecessary and futile efforts to [negatively] impact global cooperation with Iran," IRNA reported Qasemi as saying on Wednesday.

"Definitely, such unconsidered veiled threats are not only ineffective and unconstructive, but they further inflame Iranian distrust of the US," Qasemi said.

IRNA reported Tehran Prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi as saying several dual nationals, including the two Namazis, were sentenced to 10 years in jail for "espionage and cooperating with the US government."

This week, Iranian officials also dismissed claims by US Secretary of State John Kerry that Iran's support for the Syrian government, the Lebanese Hezbollah movement and Houthis in Yemen hinder Iranian efforts to benefit from the nuclear deal.