Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has criticised what he called the United States’ “destabilising presence” after the deployment of B-52 bombers in the region, AFP reports.

“We have always believed that the presence of America in the region is a destabilising presence,” said Baghaei told a news conference in response to a question about the deployment, adding that it “will not deter (Iran’s) resolve to defend itself”.