Iran FM: Trump ‘repeating the same mistakes’

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the Donald Trump administration is repeating the same mistakes that led to the US invasion and occupation of Iraq and growing chaos and instability in the Middle East.
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif talks to the media as he leaves after a meeting with European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini at the EU Council in Brussels, Belgium, May 15, 2018. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir - RC1F7FDF7BB0
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif talks to the media as he leaves after a meeting with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini at the EU Council in Brussels, Belgium, May 15, 2018. - Reuters/Francois Lenoir
laurarozen.jpg
Laura Rozen
@@LRozen

NEW YORK — While Iran has so far not accepted President Donald Trump’s offer of direct talks, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday had a message for Trump that speaks to the US president’s frequent complaints about the cost in blood and treasure of US interventions in the Middle East.

“Trump says, ‘We spent $7 trillion in the Middle East and got nowhere,’” Zarif, speaking to a small group of journalists in New York on Saturday, said. “So, why is he repeating the same mistakes? Is he doing anything different?”

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.

Videos

See more