US approach undermines diplomacy, threatens navigation freedom: Iranian FM

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that the United States' "destructive" approach to the Middle East is weakening diplomatic efforts and eroding trust, while military operations pose a growing threat to international shipping.

Araghchi criticized the U.S. moves in a phone call with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan when he briefed the latter on recent regional developments, especially the "U.S. repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement".

He said that the recent adventurous moves by the United States in the Persian Gulf and the remarks by senior American officials are weakening the diplomatic process and deepening Iranian mistrust of the American side's intentions.

Araghchi also said that the U.S. military operations in the Middle East have posed an increasingly serious threat to the international shipping and the freedom of navigation, the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) news agency reported on Friday.

Araghchi stressed that the current insecurity in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz is a direct consequence of the U.S. illegal actions and military adventurism, according to the report.

Laura Fernandez was sworn in on Friday as Costa Rica's president for a four-year term during a ceremony at the National Stadium in San Jose.

Fernandez, 39, received the presidential sash from outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves before a crowd of about 20,000 people, including foreign dignitaries.

She previously served as minister of national planning and economic policy, and later as minister of the presidency.

Running as the candidate of the Sovereign People's Party, she won Costa Rica's presidential election on Feb 1.

In her first speech as president, Fernandez said her government would fight crime and prevent drug trafficking from infiltrating state institutions. She also announced plans to inaugurate a new "mega-prison" and one of the world's most modern police surveillance centers.