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Zarif slams US for 'theatrical acts' in dealing with terrorism

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif slammed Washington for supporting the Islamic State in fighting the Assad regime in Syria and criticized America's lack of effectiveness in quelling the Islamist group, according to reports by Iranian state-run media.

“Owing to their double-standards, the Americans have not been so serious in fighting the Islamic Sate up until today; they supported Islamic State in Syria in different forms for a long time and now cannot decide what to do with the slogans they have chanted for such a long time,” Zarif said in an interview with Iran’s state-run TV on Sunday, referring to the US’ stated policy of support for anti-Damascus militant groups to topple President Bashar Assad’s government.
Zarif said Iranian officials had realized the danger posed by Islamic State's "since the very first day" and supported the Iraqi people against the terrorist group to prevent the spread of its activities but that the US and other western states would need to gather "a serious understanding" of the dangers posed by the Islamic State before they could made a decision to fight the group.