US seeks to overthrow Iranian regime: Tehran

Tehran, Aug 19 (IANS) The US move to roll out an Iran Action Group (IAG) is aimed at toppling the Islamic regime, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday.

"The US overthrew the popularly elected democratic government of Mossadegh 65 years ago, restoring the dictatorship and subjugating Iranians for the next 25 years," Zarif said on his Twitter account, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Now an ‘Action Group’ dreams of doing the same through pressure, misinformation and demagoguery. Never again," he said.

The US State Department on Thursday announced the creation of the IAG to execute the administration’s Iran strategy and pressure the country to change its behaviour.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tehran has been engaged in "a torrent of violent and destabilizing behaviour" against the US and its allies for nearly 40 years. "We are committed to a whole-of-government effort to change the Iranian regime’s behaviour."

Iran has dismissed the allegations, citing Washington as the cause of instability in the region.