Iran disputes U.S. report on terror

TEHRAN, May 4 (UPI) -- An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Monday criticized a U.S. report calling Iran a state sponsor of terrorism," saying the Islamic republic fights terrorism.

In a report on terrorism released Thursday, the U.S. State Department called Iran "the most significant state sponsor of terrorism."

Fars News Agency reported Monday that ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said Iran is a "forerunner in the fight against terrorism." Qashqavi said a push by the U.S. House of Representatives to impose fresh sanctions against Iran would be futile.

"Sanctions will not have any impact on our national resolve to pursue our nuclear rights and other rights,'' Qashqavi said.