TEHRAN -- Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said on Monday that Iranian officials should use ‘diplomatic language’ and avoid making comments contrary to Iran’s stances on international issues.

Addressing Iranian envoys to other countries, Larijani criticized Vice President Esfandiar Rahim Mashaii for claiming friendship with the ‘Israeli people’.
Mashaii had earlier said, “Iran is friends with the Israeli people” in stark contrast to Iran’s stance on the Zionist regime.
He had also described the people of the United States as “one of the best nations in the world”.
“Today, Iran is friends with the American and Israeli people. No nation in the world is our enemy, this is an honor,” Mashaii stated.
“People who live in Israel are either Palestinians or those who have occupied the region, with whom Iran is not friends,” Larijani stressed.
“These comments do not represent Iran’s stance. It is wrong to say we are friends with Israeli people,” he added.
The Majlis speaker advised Iranian officials not to spill over into extremism while making comments about other nations.
“Some extremist remarks have also been made about U.S. citizens… they are just like people of other countries and are not superior to others. We should neither belittle them nor overcomplement them.”
Iranian officials should be careful to make wise comments on international issues in order to avoid harming Iran’s global status and help the country overcome the current complicated situation, he added