Iran rejects Kerry's terrorism claims as 'baseless'

Iran on Sunday dismissed as "baseless" US Secretary of State John Kerry's remarks on Iran's alleged support of terrorism.

"These remarks are so baseless that nobody in the world takes heed of them," Xinhua quoted Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif as saying in a joint press conference with visiting Estonian Foreign Minister Marina Kaljurand.

"The danger of terrorism and extremism, as the main risk threatening the region, is the result of the US occupation of and presence in Iraq over the past years," Zarif said.

Unfortunately, some regional states, which only think about their short-term interests, are also spreading the risk of extremism and the Islamic State (IS) in the region, he said, rejecting US allegations that Iran is destabilising the Middle East.

On Thursday, Kerry said in Bahrain that Iran should stop its destabilising behaviour in the Middle East and work with its neighbours to end the crises in Yemen and Syria.