Tehran, August 2 (RHC)-- Iran’s foreign minister has dismissed his U.S. counterpart’s “empty and disingenuous” offers to visit Iran and have an interview with the country’s state TV, daring him to accept any of the many interview requests from Iranian reporters.

“Instead of making empty and disingenuous offers, Secretary [Mike] Pompeo can accept any of the many requests from Iranian reporters to interview US officials,” Zarif tweeted.  “He has refused 'til now, as he knows he has to be accountable to rigorous questioning -- the very same way I am by the U.S. media,” he added.

Zarif suggested the U.S. secretary of state does not dare to have an interview with Iranian reporters because they will ask him “to explain why he & his boss: Call Iran a terrorist nation; Distort historical name of PERSIAN GULF to grovel to client regimes; Distort even the BIBLE to kowtow to a #B_Team member; Employ Economic Terrorism against entire Iranian people; and....”

The Iranian foreign minister’s comments came in reaction to Pompeo’s offer to visit Iran and go on Iranian television and speak directly to the Iranian nation, which he calls a “terrorist nation.”

Asked if he would be willing to go to Tehran, Pompeo said in a July 25 interview with Bloomberg TV, “Sure.  If that’s the call, I’d happily go there... I would welcome the chance to speak directly to the Iranian people.”  Pompeo said he would accept any offer to go on Iranian television as Zarif has appeared on U.S. television.

Shortly after his offer, Ali Rabiei, the spokesman for the Iranian administration, said that if Pompeo is willing to talk to Iranian reporters, he can have an interview with Press TV correspondent and anchor, Marziyeh Hashemi, who was detained by the U.S. government on baseless grounds during a visit to meet with her family in the United States earlier this year.

“Pompeo has said that he is willing to talk to Iranian reporters.  We say that we have Ms. Marziyeh Hashemi, who can talk to him.”