Iran's Zarif says Saudi, UAE want to 'fight Iran to the last American'

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif attends a news conference in Moscow, Russia on September 2, 2019. Zarif said on Thursday any U.S. or Saudi military strike against Iran would result in "all-out war". (REUTERS File Photo)

DUBAI, September 20 (Reuters): Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Friday that U.S.-allied Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates seem to wish to "fight Iran to the last American".

Zarif was responding to a statement a day earlier by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a visit to Abu Dhabi that: "While the foreign minister of Iran is threatening all out war and to fight to the last American, we're here to build up a coalition aimed at achieving peace."

Zarif tweeted on Friday: "@SecPompeo has it the other way around: It's not #Iran that wishes to fight to the last American; rather, it is his #B_Team hosts who seem to wish to fight Iran to the last American."

Zarif has in the past said that a so-called “B-team” including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Abu Dhabi's crown prince could goad the U.S. president into a conflict with Tehran.