Iran denies US accusation of 'destabilising the region'

Tehran slammed comments by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson who said Iran is carrying out “destabilising actions” by supporting Hizballah in Lebanon, supplying missiles to Houthi forces in Yemen and sending weapons and militia fighters to Syria.

“Repeating the groundless accusations and lies will not help solve the large and strategic mistakes America has made in recent decades against Iran and the region,” foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said according to state media.

“While there’s time remaining, Mr Tillerson should become more familiar with the realities and history of the region and American policies, and its effects which has led to serious instability and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent women, children and people.”

Similar accusations have been made by Iran’s neighbours in recent years.

On Tuesday, the exiled son of Yemen’s former president Ali Abdullah Saleh called on loyalists to "take back Yemen from the Iranian Houthi militias", after the killing of the heavyweight politician.

"I will lead the battle until the last Houthi is thrown out of Yemen... the blood of my father will be hell ringing in the ears of Iran," Ahmed Ali Saleh said.

Similarly, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri also noted Iran’s meddling in Lebanon during an unprecedented resignation speech from Riyadh last month, which has since been revoked.

Despite publicly supporting both Houthi rebels and Hizballah, Iran has continuously denied accusations of meddling.