Iran's Foreign Ministry dismissed anti-Iran remarks by the head of the US Central Command, saying Washington's unwise and wrong policies are the root cause of tensions in the Middle East.
"The injudicious and incorrect US policies have been the main reason behind the volatile, tense and unstable situation in the Middle East over the past decades and recent years," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said on Saturday.
He noted that the "wrong and meddlesome policies of US statesmen" have generated the current tensions in the region, Press TV reported.
The spokesperson stressed that these mistakes are a product of US officials' excessive demands and lack of correct understanding and perception of the strategic and sensitive region of the Middle East and a result of relentless support for the Israeli regime.
Qasemi said allegations leveled by the US official against the Islamic Republic are merely an attempt to divert attention away from Washington's role in the creation of terrorist groups.
Addressing the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, General Joseph Votel, the head of US Central Command, alleged that Iran "aspires to be a regional hegemon and its forces and proxies oppose US interests in Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, Gaza and Syria, and seek to hinder achievement of US objectives in Afghanistan and some Central Asian States".
He claimed that Iran's "influence is the most significant threat to Middle East security".
Qasemi said the unwise and malevolent conduct of the US are the root cause of the establishment of takfiri terrorism and extremism, and the emergence of terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda and the self-styled Islamic State terrorist group are just a small part of the results of these policies.
The Iranian spokesman pointed out that even the US president, as the commander-in-chief of the country, had "openly, explicitly and repeatedly acknowledged and mentioned [these policies] in the election campaign".
In an interview in August 2016, US President Donald Trump reaffirmed his assertion that former US president, Barack Obama, had founded IS.
"No, I meant he's the founder of IS," Trump said. "I do. He was the most valuable player. I give him the most valuable player award. I give her, too, by the way, Hillary Clinton."
Qasemi added that the US is the biggest exporter and supplier of advanced weapons and military equipment to "some governments in the region" and as such plays a prominent role in the escalation of tensions, crises, warmongering, insecurity and political turmoil in West Asian countries.
The spokesperson said the consequences of such US policies can be clearly seen and judged by the global community.
