Trump's threats, symptomatic of US aiding extremists: Iran FM

Iran has criticized US President Donald Trump's hypocritical approach on chemical weapons, saying his threats show that the United States is aiding extremists.

"Trump's cheap shot against Iran, which has consistently condemned use of chemical weapons by anyone, is itself the victim of their use by [Iraq's former dictator] Saddam with US support, is hypocritical," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a post on his official Twitter account on Tuesday.

He added that the US president's "threats to repeat impulsive acts of aggression" are "symptomatic of US policy helping extremists."

Trump on Sunday accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of launching a chemical attack near the capital Damascus, saying there will be a “big price to pay.”

He also blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iran for the alleged attack.

"President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price to pay," Trump said in a pair of tweets.

The alleged chemical attack on Saturday in the militant-held town of Douma in the Eastern Ghouta region left dozens dead and drew international condemnation from various countries and international bodies.
Eastern Ghouta, which is home to nearly 400,000 people, fell to multiple militant groups in 2012, months after Syria plunged into crisis and has since served as a launch pad for fatal attacks against residents and infrastructure in Damascus.

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi on Sunday strongly condemned the use of chemical weapons by any country in any part of the world, saying claims about a chemical attack by the Syrian government in Eastern Ghouta are "conspiratorial and illogical."

EA