Iran FM: No war expected in region

'I am sure that as Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said no war will occur as neither are we seeking a war nor anyone else has the illusion of being able to fight with Iran in the region,' Zarif said speaking to IRNA correspondent in Beijing at the last hours of his presence in the Chinese capital. 

Zarif argued that there are some people around US President Donald Trump who want to push him towards a war while he has officially said and has stressed recently that he is not seeking war. 

He noted that what he described as “Team B” in his New York visit is a reality.

Everybody was aware of this reality (Team B) but because of the psychological atmosphere dominating the US community, there were few people who dared to talk about that, the foreign minister said. 

The group which Zarif refers to as Team B is comprised of US National Security Advisor John R. Bolton, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Saudi Crown Prince Bin Salman and the UAE’s Bin Zayed. Zarif says Team B tries to escalate US tensions with Iran. 

He said that Trump’s “America First” policy is turning into “Israel First” or “Some Reactionary Regional Leaders First” policy. 

Their interests have been imposed on the American administration both through their financial power and propaganda so that they are gaining dominance, Zarif said.