The United Nations body responsible for drug control has criticised Iran after its vice-president spoke of drug addiction being a Zionist conspiracy.

Yury Fedotov, chief of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, said Mohammad Reza Rahimi’s remarks caused him "dismay and serious concern".

Rahimi claimed that there were no Jewish drug addicts, which he said was proof of the Zionist conspiracy, during a speech in Tehran marking International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Mr Fedetov summoned an Iranian diplomat to discuss the “antisemitic comments” earlier today.

The EU and British government have already condemned Iran for the remarks, with Catherine Ashton, the EU's foreign policy representative, labelling them racist.