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An "ignorant hate speech", was Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's response to US President Donald Trump's opening speech to the United Nations on Tuesday, which heavily criticised Tehran.

In Trump's first address to the UN, he described Iran as a "corrupt dictatorship" and "rogue state", calling for a nuclear agreement between Tehran and several world powers - including the US - to be ultimately scrapped.

Zarif had few kind words for Trump's remarks to the UN, which laid into several other countries. 

"Trump's ignorant hate speech belongs in medieval times - not the 21st century UN - unworthy of a reply," Zarif said on Twitter.

Zarif also appeared dismayed at Trump's claim that the "longest-suffering victims of Iran's leaders are, in fact, its own people".

"Fake empathy for Iranians fools no one," Zarif responded.

Iran was also backing bloody Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and other proxy forces in the region that "undermine peace throughout the entire Middle East", Trump added.

After threatening to "destroy" North Korea over its nuclear threats, he vowed to not allow Iran to build its own arsenal.

"We cannot let a murderous regime continue these destabilising activities while building dangerous missiles, and we cannot abide by an agreement if it provides cover for the eventual construction of a nuclear programme," he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu also slammed Iran in his speech to the UN General Assembly.

Zarif helped Iran and US President Barack Obama - along with several world powers - to end years of stalemate and sign an accord to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions.

In return, Iran received sanctions relief after the deal was agreed in 2015.

Agencies contributed to this story.