Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham. Photo: Press TV/screenshot.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham reaffirmed her country’s continued support for a Palestinian terrorist organization and rejected U.K. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond’s comments that Tehran had changed its stance on Israel, Fars News Agency reported on Wednesday.

“Iran’s support for all resistance groups continues similar to the past,” Afkham told reporters, when asked about  Tehran’s policy towards Hamas.

According to Fars, Afkham also asserted that support for the “resistance front” and groups who stood against the “Zionist regime” was a main principle of Iran’s foreign policy. She went on to express her hopes that the groups fighting on the front lines in the war against the Jewish state would remain united and maintain their integrity.

Her comments came on the heels of reports that a member of Hamas was critical of Iran for its waning support.

This ran in contrast to statements from other Hamas officials — among them Moussa Abu Marzouk, deputy chairman of Hamas’s political bureau; former Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh;  and Hamas co-founder Mahmoud Al-Zahar — stressing their appreciation for Iran’s continued and unwavering support for the terrorist organization ruling the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, according to Fars, Afkham dismissed Hammond’s remarks, made on his recent trip to Iran, that Tehran had changed its policy on Israel. “There were no talks on the Zionist regime and the report that Iran has changed its position is denied,” she said.

This echoed statements by Hossein Sheikholeslam, international affairs adviser to Majlis (parliament) Speaker Ali Larijani,  who told reporters on Tuesday: “Our positions against the usurper Zionist regime have not changed at all; Israel should be annihilated and this is our ultimate slogan.”