Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has criticised the US following a deadly attack on a military parade.
Gunmen opened fire at Revolutionary Guard troops in the south-western city of Ahvaz on Saturday, in an attack claimed by both an anti-government Arab group, and Islamic State militants.
Mr Rouhani said the “bully” US and the Gulf states it backed had enabled the attack.
The US has denied this and says it condemns “any terrorist attack”.
Mr Rouhani will face Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly this week.
Saturday’s attack killed 25 people, including 12 soldiers, civilians watching the parade, and a four-year-old girl.
Ahvaz National Resistance, an umbrella group that claims to defend the rights of the Arab minority in Iran’s Khuzestan Province, said the group was behind the bloodshed, while IS also claimed the attack.
Neither group provided evidence to show it was involved.
Speaking on Sunday, before leaving for the UN in New York, Mr Rouhani vowed that Iran would “not let this crime stand”.
“It is absolutely clear to us who committed this crime… and whom they are linked to,” he said.
He alleged that a Gulf country had supported the “financial, weaponry and political needs” of the attackers.
He added: “The small puppet countries in the region are backed by America, and the US is provoking them and giving them the necessary capabilities.”
“The US showed the world their bullying nature and they keep continuing their unilateral policies.”
However, US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley countered: “He [Rouhani] has oppressed his people for a long time and he needs to look at his own base to figure out where that’s coming from.”
“The United States condemns any terrorist attack anywhere,” she told CNN, but added: “He can blame us all he wants. The thing he’s got to do is look at the mirror.”
Mr Rouhani did not specify which “puppet” countries he was referring to – but his comments are widely thought to be directed at Iran’s regional foe Saudi Arabia, and the UAE and Bahrain.
On Sunday, Iran’s foreign ministry summoned a UAE envoy in protest at “biased statements” made in support of the attack.
An adviser to the UAE crown prince had tweeted that “attacking a military target is not a terrorist act” and “moving the battle deeper inside in Iran is a declared option”.
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Source: BBC
