Iran ‘strongly refutes’ Pompeo’s ‘irresponsible’ remarks on embassy attack

Iran has dismissed “irresponsible” remarks by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo regarding a recent rocket attack against the US embassy in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, saying the accusations are meant to stoke tensions and that Washington’s military presence is the “source of instability” in the region.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh made the remarks in a Monday tweet in response to an offensive post on Twitter by the American diplomat in which he had accused Iran-backed groups of being behind the recent rocket attack on the highly fortified Green Zone and the US Embassy in Baghdad.

Pompeo claimed that the attack had wounded an unspecified number of Iraqi civilians and that such "destabilizing actions" must cease.

The rockets, which were fired late on Sunday, landed close to the US diplomatic mission, causing sirens blaring within the compound without any casualties apart from some material damage.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman went on to say, “The US military presence is the source of instability in our region. No amount of spin can divert blame for its evils.”

Following the attack, Reuters quoted the Iraqi military as saying in a statement that an "outlaw group" had fired rockets at Baghdad's Green Zone.

The rockets hit a residential complex inside the Green Zone, damaging buildings and cars, but causing no casualties, the statement added.

MG