Trump Blamed for Int’l Instability

Iran on Saturday blamed US President Donald Trump's "arbitrary and conflicting policies" for increasing global instability, rejecting the US president's description of Tehran as a rogue state. Tensions between Iran and the United States have heightened since the election of Trump who has often accused Tehran of backing militancy and terrorism.

"[Trump] ought to seek the reason for subversion and rebellion in his own arbitrary and conflicting policies and actions, as well as those of his arrogant and aggressive allies in the region," said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi, IRNA reported.

President Trump alleged on Thursday new threats were emerging from "rogue regimes like North Korea, Iran and Syria, and the governments that finance and support them".

Senior Iranian officials have blamed US ally Saudi Arabia, Iran's regional rival, for instability and attacks in the Middle East, including its indiscriminate attacks on Yemen and last month's terror assaults that killed 18 people in Tehran.

Saudi Arabia has denied involvement in the attacks that were claimed by the self-styled Islamic State terrorist outfit.

While Trump has kept up his criticism of Tehran, a senior US official said on Thursday the president was "very likely" to state that Iran is adhering to its nuclear agreement with world powers, although he continues to have reservations about it.