Tehran: Iran is rejecting accusations that weapons seized on a ship in Yemen last month and allegedly bound for a rebel group there were exported from Iran.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Tuesday that reports about the ship and the weapons are “incorrect and a lie”. On Saturday, Yemen’s interior minister said that an investigation had determined that the Iranian-made missiles, rockets and other weapons confiscated on the vessel were loaded onto the ship in Iran and destined for Yemeni insurgents.

Mehmanparast called the accusations “irresponsible” and said Iran respects the sovereignty and integrity of Yemen. He warned that such allegations could damage future cooperation.

For years, Yemen has been fighting Al Houthi rebels near the country’s border with Saudi Arabia.