Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh.  (Photo: Press TV)

Tehran, December 22 (RHC)-- Iran has dismissed “irresponsible” remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo regarding a recent rocket attack against the U.S. 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 U.S. diplomatic mission, causing sirens blaring within the compound without any casualties apart from some material damage.

“We strongly refute [U.S.] Secretary [of State Mike] Pompeo's irresponsible anti-Iran accusations, which blatantly aim to create tension,” Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said, adding: “Iran rejects any attack on diplomatic missions.”

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