Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoTreasury sanctions individuals, groups tied to Russian malign influence activities Navalny released from hospital after suspected poisoning Overnight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers MORE on Sunday blasted Iranian leadership for blaming the U.S. and its allies for an attack on an Iranian military parade that left at least 25 people dead.

"When you have a security incident at home, blaming others is an enormous mistake," Pompeo said on "Fox News Sunday."

Pompeo was asked to respond to comments from Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who said Gulf countries and their "U.S. masters" recruited and armed the individuals responsible for the attack.

"The loss of innocent life is tragic, and I wish Zarif would focus on keeping his own people secure rather than causing insecurity around the world," Pompeo said Sunday.

ADVERTISEMENT

The secretary of State's interview was taped before Iranian President Hassan Rouhani echoed Zarif, and assailed the U.S. as a "bully toward the rest of the world."

Multiple news outlets reported that at least 25 people, half of whom were members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, the country's elite fighting force, were killed Saturday in the attack by four gunmen during a military parade in Tehran.

Pompeo said Sunday that President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE would be open to meeting with Iranian leaders at this week's United Nations General Assembly meeting, but that the U.S. has seen no indication Iran is changing its malign behavior.

Tensions between the two countries have been heightened in the months since the Trump administration withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, which offered Tehran sanctions relief in exchange for abandoning its nuclear program.

The U.S. has since reimposed some of the sanctions lifted in the deal, potentially crippling the Iranian economy.