TEHRAN, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry on Saturday strongly condemned as "hostile" the allegations by Saudi Arabia's foreign minister that Tehran supports "terrorism."

The Saudi rulers and their ideology are the "essential source and cause of terrorism and extremism," said Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi.

However, "Iran has fought terrorism, extremism and violence supported by (Saudi) petrodollars and United States," said Qasemi.

On Thursday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that "Iran is the problem in the region, it is the source of terror and extremism."