TEHRAN – A senior Iranian cleric on Monday deplored British Prime Minister Theresa May for her recent remarks against the Islamic Republic, saying such statements are made only to strike lucrative business deals with Arab states of the Persian Gulf region.

Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi dismissed the allegation raised by the British PM, stressing that Iran has been the first country to fight against terror groups in the Middle East region, Tasnim reported.

In a recent summit of the (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council in Bahrain, May blamed Iran for regional unrest.

SP/PA