Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson has rejected claims made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on alleged Iranian plots to assassinate American political leaders, including the president, saying Washington is attempting to deflect attention from what he described as “war crimes” against Iranian civilians.

Posting a video of Rubio’s remarks to X, Esmail Baghaei wrote: “Every accusation is a confession,” adding “playing victim cannot whitewash your harrowing war crimes and crimes against humanity against the nation of Iran”.