Iran condemns McCain for cigarette joke

McCain, who once sang in jest about bombing Iran, onTuesday reacted to a report of rising U.S. cigarette exports tothe Islamic Republic by saying it may be "a way of killing'em."

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseinisaid: "McCain's crude remark on the indiscriminate killing ofthe Iranian nation not only testifies to his disturbed state ofmind, but also to his warmongering approach to foreign policy."

In a statement quoted by the website of Iran's state PressTV satellite station, Hosseini added:

"We condemn such jokes and believe them to be inappropriatefor a U.S. presidential candidate. It is most evident thatjokes about genocide will not be tolerated by Iranians orAmericans."

McCain, known for acerbic comments and for sometimes firingverbally from the hip, was responding to a report that U.S.exports to Iran rose tenfold during President George W. Bush'sterm in office despite hostility between the two countries.

A rise in cigarette sales was a big part of that, accordingto an Associated Press analysis.

"Maybe that's a way of killing 'em," McCain said toreporters during a campaign stop in Pittsburgh. "I meant thatas a joke, as a person who hasn't had a cigarette in 28 years,29 years," he added, laughing.

His comments coincided with rising tension between Iran andits arch-foes, the United States and Israel, over the IslamicRepublic's disputed nuclear programme.

U.S. leaders have not ruled out military options ifdiplomacy fails to assuage fears about Iran's nuclear work,which they suspect is aimed at making bombs but which Tehransays is only to produce electricity.

(Reporting by Fredrik Dahl; Editing by Matthew Jones)