Iran condemns terrorist attack in New York

'Addressing the issue of fighting terrorism with honesty and seriousness remains to be the only way to uproot the phenomenon,' Qasemi said.

'Adopting a hostile tactic and killing innocent and defenseless civilians on the streets and public places demonstrates how much terrorists are brutal, merciless and cruel in their approach,' he added.

'The terrorists have proved they do not obey any moral and humane principles,' he noted.

He went on to say that such incidents in other countries remind the Iranian people, who themselves are victims of terrorism, of nothing but a deep sadness.

'We believe that the main reason behind the sinister, inhumane and cruel phenomenon is the policy and approach the US and its allies adopted in the Middle East that resulted in promoting terrorist groups by them, and using them as a tool to achieve the ends and secure interests,' Qasemi reiterated.

A man driving a rental truck struck and killed eight people on a bike path in Manhattan, NY City, Tuesday afternoon.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called the attack a 'cowardly act of terror'.

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