Iran Rejects U.S. Claims of Role in Yemen Crisis

Iran denied Wednesday that it has played any part in a Shiite militia's power grab in Yemen, an accusation leveled by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

Speaking to U.S. lawmakers Tuesday, Kerry said "critical" support of the Huthi militia by Shiite-dominated Iran "contributed" to the collapse of Yemen's government.

Iranian foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham responded by saying Kerry's statement "is nothing but a blame game completely in contradiction to what was previously mentioned by U.S. officials".

She did not elaborate.

"Iran's fundamental approach is that nations should determine their fate with their own hands," Afkham said, quoted by the official IRNA news agency.

"Any foreign intervention would further complicate the situation of this country."

The Huthis swept into Sanaa from their mountainous northern stronghold in September and took control of the capital.

President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi stepped down under pressure in January and was put under house arrest, from which he escaped at the weekend.

Now in the southern city of Aden, he has rescinded his resignation and labeled as "nulled and illegitimate"all measures adopted by the Huthis, including their formation of a "presidential council" this month.

Yemen's Gulf neighbors have rejected the Huthi moved as a coup, and the U.N. Security Council has urged the militia to withdraw its forces from government institutions.