ISLAMABAD – Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif rejected accusations thatTehran is sponsoring terrorism in the region, suggesting that the actionsof Saudi Arabia and the US have led to “dangerous escalations” in theMiddle East.

Speaking to CNBC’s Hadley Gamble at the Doha Forum in Qatar, IranianForeign Minister Javad Zarif dismissed claims that Iran is the causeof instability in the Middle East.

Zarif noted that the instability in the region was caused by “the wrongpolicies that are being followed, not only by Saudi Arabia but by itsallies in the West who have given it a blank check to continue to makethese very dangerous escalations.”

He referred to the four-year-long civil war in Yemen which the UN hascalled the “world’s worst humanitarian crisis.” Saudi Arabia has blamedYemen’s Houthi rebels for the crisis, charging them with receiving supportfrom Tehran, while Iran has accused the Saudi-led bombing campaignof contributing to thousands of deaths.

Earlier today Zarif reiterated that Iran has never provided weapons to theHouthis, noting that Saudi Arabia is interested in increasing tensionsin the region, with the minister highlighting the examples of the blockadeof Qatar and the military operation in Yemen as proof.