Iranian FM calls Clinton interview 'incredible'

Tehran says US should keep out of interference, occupation of other countries in response to US secretary of state's criticism.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Ali Akbar Salehi_311 reuters (photo credit: Khaled Al Hariri / Reuters)
Ali Akbar Salehi_311 reuters
(photo credit: Khaled Al Hariri / Reuters)
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast on Saturday said that accusations US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made about Iran were "incredible," the Iranian Students' News Agency (IRNA) reported.
"Mrs. Clinton's unawareness on Iran is not a new issue. We recommend her and other US officials to keep out of interference and occupation of other countries as well as suppression and dictatorship inside the US instead of accusing others," the spokesman was quoted as saying in the report.
RELATED:US charges Iranians for plotting to kill Saudi ambassador Clinton warns Iran not to exploit US Iraq pullout
Mehmanparast's statement was a response to an interview Clinton gave to BBC Persian on Thursday in which she said, among other things, that Iran was morphing into a military dictatorship.
"It’s been a little confusing because we’re not quite sure who makes decisions anymore inside of Iran," Clinton said.
"There is a lot of evidence," to support allegations of an Iranian plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the US, Clinton said, citing: The confession of Manssor Arbabsiar, the 56-year-old Iranian American held in custody for the plot, information from the supposed Mexican gang member that the Arbabsiar tried to hire to carry out the assassination, phone records between the two and overseas money wires traceable to the Quds Force in Iran.
Addressing the bizarre nature of "what seems like the most absurd" plot, Clinton pointed to "a pattern of increasingly reckless behavior by the Quds Force over the past years," including the use of proxy terrorist groups like Hezbollah.
Clinton also said there was "reason to believe" that the Quds Force was involved in the assassination of Saudi security official Hassan al-Qahtani in Karachi, Pakistan on May 16.
While the problems with Iran are immense, nuclear negotiations are not off the table, Clinton added. 
"We do not want a conflict with Iran but we do want to see the rulers of Iran change their outlook and their behavior."