Iran's FM Zarif blasts Trump's travel ban

Iran’s foreign minister Javad Zarif has blasted Donald Trump’s travel ban on nationals from seven majority Muslim countries.

Taking to Twitter, he said the US president’s action was ‘‘a great gift to extremists’‘.

Zarif’s condemnation followed a move by Tehran to take reciprocal measures against US passport holders seeking Iranian visas.

Iran’s parliament speaker Ali Larijani also slammed Washington’s move.

“This reveals the fear of this US administration. It’s afraid of its own shadow. It has also exposed their brutal racist manner hidden behind their demagogic veneer which pretends to be pro-democracy and pro-human rights. A country that enjoys powerful security doesn’t make such decisions with fear and anxiety,” Larijani said.

It is estimated Iranians could make up nearly half of all the US visa holders coming from the seven countries covered by the ban.

The United States is home to more than a million Iranians.