UNITED NATIONS: The foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) accused Iran of playing "the greatest role in causing tension and instability" in the Middle East on Saturday.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan pointed towards Iran's "expansionist regional policies, flagrant violations of the principles of sovereignty and constant interference in the internal affairs of its neighbouring countries."

He told the United Nations General Assembly's annual ministerial meeting on Saturday that regional countries hoped last year's nuclear deal between Iran and six major powers would change Tehran's "hostile approach", but those hopes were "quickly thwarted".

"Iran wasted no time in continuing its efforts to undermine the security of the region, through aggressive rhetoric, blatant interference, producing and arming militias, (and) developing its ballistic missile program," Al Nahyan said.

The UAE minister said Iran's interference in Iraq's internal affairs "has exacerbated... division among its people".