Chief-of-Staff of Iran's Joint Armed Forces, Major General Hassan Firouzabadi, has advised Washington to discontinue its indirect support of Wahhabi terrorism in the region.

"Instead of deploying troops in Afghanistan and murdering innocents in the region, the United States should call on its allies in the region to end their financial and military aid to Wahhabi terrorists," Firouzabadi said on Tuesday.

Addressing a gathering of officials on the occasion of Nov. 4, which marks the 30th anniversary of the US Embassy takeover in Tehran, Firouzabadi said Wahhabi terrorism has been created by the imperialist countries who seek to "spread Islamophobia and anti-Islam sentiments [throughout the world]."

Wahhabism is an extremely intolerant interpretation of Islam practiced in Saudi Arabia. The sect is especially prejudiced toward certain religious festivals, including celebrations held to mark the birth anniversary of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH), and Shia mourning ceremonies.

Wahhabism gained momentum after the discovery of oil in the Kingdom in 1938, helping the spread of Wahhabism throughout the Middle East.

Their "oil money" helped finance a large-scale program of assistance to the Afghan mujahedeen, some of whom have now joined the Taliban, during the Soviet invasion of the country in coordination with Pakistan's Inter Service Intelligence agency (ISI) and the CIA.

MT/HGH