Ready to assist quake victims in Iran and Pakistan: US

The United States is ready to provide any humanitarian assistance to the victims of the earthquake in Iran and Pakistan, a State Department official today said.

"We have seen the reports of the earthquake near Khash on the Iran-Pakistan border, and we're monitoring the situation. We offer our condolences to the families who lost loved ones during the earthquake," State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell told reporters at his daily news conference.

"The United States does stand ready to assist either Iran or Pakistan at this point," Ventrell said.

The official said that the US has in the mast made exception to provide direct humanitarian assistance to Iran; against whom it has imposed tough economic sanctions, because of its controversial nuclear programme.

"We have in the past provided direct emergency assistance in terms of supplies and other technical assistance. I can't remember the year when there was a very major earthquake, going back a few years, but we did provide direct assistance at that time," Ventrell said.