Iran's defence minister says US should 'get out' of Middle East

Iran's defence minister on Saturday called on the US to get out of the Middle East in response to comments made by US Secretary of State John Kerry accusing Tehran of "destabilising" the region.

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

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

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".

The comments highlighted continuing tensions between Iran and the United States, despite last year's nuclear deal. The countries have contrasting stances on the conflicts in Yemen and Syria, and these opposing views seem to underpin the countries' latest disagreement.

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 extensive 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,” he said.

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

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

The US Navy said on Monday its forces in the Gulf had seized a shipment of weapons on 28 March 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."