Iran protests against Tillerson ‘transition’ remarks

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran calls in the Swiss charge d’affaires, who looks after US interests in the country, to protest against comments by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson backing “peaceful transition” in the Islamic Republic.

The administration of US President Donald Trump has taken an increasingly hawkish position towards Iran since taking office in January but Tillerson’s testimony to a Congressional committee last week appeared to be the first expression of support for a change of government.

“The Swiss charge d’affaires was summoned to the foreign ministry to be a handed a strong protest from the Islamic Republic of Iran against the comments by the US secretary of state…. which were contrary to international law and the UN charter,” ministry spokesman Bahram Ghassemi tells Iranian media.

In last Wednesday’s testimony to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Tillerson accused Iran of seeking “hegemony” in the Middle East at the expense of US allies like Saudi Arabia.

“Our policy towards Iran is to push back on this hegemony… and to work toward support of those elements inside of Iran that would lead to a peaceful transition of that government,” the US top diplomat said. “Those elements are there certainly, as we know,” he added, without elaborating on the groups he was referring to.

— AFP