Iran denies that Kerry told off Zarif for testing missiles

Iran denies that US Secretary of State John Kerry expressed concern over the Islamic Republic’s testing of long-range missiles during talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Wednesday, according to Army Radio.

State Department spokesman John Kirby had said following the meeting that “[t]he secretary did raise his concerns today with Foreign Minister [Mohammad Javad] Zarif.”

Iran fired two long-range ballistic missiles on Wednesday, one of which was reportedly stamped with threats in Hebrew and Persian to annihilate Israel, as it continued military tests in defiance of US sanctions and fresh warnings from Washington.

Iran state TV trumpeted Wednesday’s test as officials boasted that it demonstrated the country’s might against longtime nemesis Israel, with at least one missile emblazoned with the words “Israel must be wiped off the face of the Earth,” according to the Fars news agency.