Iran’s president on Sunday accused an unnamed US ally of being behind a terror attack on a military paౠrade that kille💧d 25 people and wounded 70.
“All of those small mercenary countri𝕴es that we see in this region are backed by America. It is﷽ Americans who instigate them and provide them with necessary means to commit these crimes,” President Hassan Rouhani said before leaving for the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
His remarks could refer to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates or Bahrain — all close US military allies that consider Iran a menace because of its support for militant groups in the Middle East.
The region’s ethnic Arab opposition movement called the Ahvaz National Resistance had claimed responsibility for Saturday’s ambush in the southwestern city of Ahvaz.
At least 25 people, including a four-year-old boy, were killed when gunmen disguised as soldiers ambushed the annual Iranian military parade, in the blood🅠iest assault to strike th♏e country in nearly a decade, which was captured live on state-TV.
Rouhani’s comments blaming the US came as Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned diplomats from Britain, Denmark and the Netherlands over them allegedly providing havens for the separatists.
The US government strongly condemned the attack and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday blasted Iran’s leadership for pointing fingers at the US and its allies.
“When you have a security incident at home, blaming other is an enormous mistake,” he said on “Fox News Sunday.”
Pompeo was responding to comments made by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who said Gulf countries and their “US masters” recruited and armed those responsible for the attack.
“The loss of life is tragic, and I wish Zarif would focus on keeping his own people secure rather than causing insecurity around the world,” Pompeo said.
President Trump is open to meeting with Iranian leaders at this week’s UN General Assembly meeting, Pompeo said.
The separatists accuse Iran’s Persian-dominated government of discriminating against its ethnic Arab minority. There have also been economic protests in the region and protests over Iran’s nationwide drought.
With Post wires