Sputnik News- Russia's top diplomat said excluding Tehran from the anti-terrorist coalition would be a mistake.





Barring Iran from�the anti-terrorist coalition on�the basis of�unsubstantiated allegations alone would not be sensible, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on�Sunday in�his interview with�the NTV channel.
"If there are suspicions, then let�s consider them. But to�exclude Iran from�the anti-terrorist coalition on�one�s bare word is not sensible, and the United States are famous for�being sensible," Lavrov said.


The United States must admit that the Iran-supported Hezbollah, listed as�a terrorist organization by�the United States, is too fighting against�the terrorists of�Daesh, Lavrov said.
"Yes, [the US] relations with�Iran are now much more troubled than�they were under�Barack Obama�s presidency. But we speak for�actions based on�common sense. If President [Donald] Trump sees his main priority on�the international arena in�the fight against�terrorism, then they have to�admit that, say, in�Syria, the main forces fighting against�Daesh besides�the Syrian army supported by�the Russian Aerospace Forces are units of�Hezbollah that have Iran�s support," Lavrov said, adding that the United States will have to�choose their priorities.


Speaking of�Iran allegedly offering support to�terrorist organizations, Lavrov underlined that the country is being monitored by�the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an inter-governmental body combating terrorist financing. The minister reminded that on�February 8, FATF presented another report regarding Iran�s actions in�fighting against�financing of�terrorism, and "the results were positive."


On February 3, the administration of�US President Donald Trump imposed sanctions against�25 individuals and entities based in�Iran, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates and China for�allegedly supporting Tehran's ballistic missile program after�its latest medium-range ballistic missile test on�January 29. The United States considers the test as�a violation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of�Action (JCPOA) and the UN Security Council resolution calling on�Iran to�refrain from�nuclear-capable missile activity.