Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki criticized on Wednesday the anti-Iran gesture of British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Mottaki denounced his British counterpart's statements as gestures "in line with outdated policy of creating discord."

British government knew well that Iranians would never surrender,he said, adding that the British incorrect policies towards regional states had to be corrected.

Miliband has urged the Gulf states to use their economic and political clout to confront Iran on its nuclear ambitions.

Speaking in Abu Dhabi, he warned on Sunday that the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran posed "the most immediate threat" to the region, accusing Tehran of having "a long history of secrecy about its nuclear program."

His comments provoked swift reaction from Tehran, which charged him of holding Zionist ties.

"We have recently seen comments by Miliband about Iran being a threat in the region. There is no doubt about his strong ties with the Zionists," said Hassan Ghashghavi, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman on Monday.

(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2008)