Iran says US, not Tehran, damaging the Middle East

TEHRAN — Iran's defence minister poured scorn Saturday on US Secretary of State John Kerry's accusations that Tehran is "destabilising" the Middle East, countering that America should get out of the region.

The broadside illustrated new tension between Iran and the United States, despite last year's nuclear deal, with contrasting stances on the conflicts in Yemen and Syria underpinning the latest barbs. 

If the US seeks "stability" it should "leave the region and stop supporting terrorists", Defence Minister Hossein Dehghan said, quoted by the website of state television.

"If John Kerry thought about these subjects, he would no longer utter nonsense and foolish words."

The reaction came after Kerry speaking on a visit to Bahrain on Thursday condemned "the destabilising actions of Iran", noting that the United States was taking Tehran's actions "very seriously".

But Dehghan denounced Kerry's remarks as a sign of "frustration" at "Iran's defence capabilities", charging that it is the US that is intervening in the Middle East on account of massive arms sales.

"Americans have made countries in the region dependent on them through sale of weapons and suggesting that implementing US policies are a must for their survival."

A series of ballistic missile tests by Iran since the nuclear deal was struck last summer — sanctions against Tehran were lifted in January in return for curbs on its atomic programme — has added to US anger.

Concern over Iran's alleged involvement in the conflict in Yemen has not died down.

The US Navy said Monday its forces in the Gulf had seized a shipment of weapons on March 28 believed to be from Iran that was destined for Houthi rebels fighting in Yemen.

"We call on Iran to constructively join in the efforts to make peace and to help us to resolve Syria and rather than to continue to send weapons to Houthis, join in the effort... to make peace and to work toward a cessation of hostilities," Kerry told reporters in Manama.

Kerry later held a meeting with his Gulf Arab counterparts, two weeks before President Barack Obama is scheduled to attend a summit of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh.

The secretary of state also said that the US and GCC nations "remain united in our opposition to Iran's missile activities".

However, a top Iranian military official said Saturday there would be no change to the missile programme.

"The US is not qualified to make comments about our defence power," said Revolutionary Guards Deputy Chief General Hossein Salami.

"Our missile capabilities will never be negotiated or compromised."