Iran’s Ambassador to the UK has warned that certain forces in London are attempting to escalate tensions between the two countries.
In a statement on Twitter Hamid Baeidinejad said
“UK government should contain those domestic political forces who want to escalate existing tension between Iran and the UK well beyond the issue of ships. This is quite dangerous and unwise at a sensitive time in the region. Iran however is firm and ready for different scenarios.”
In a reciprocal move on Friday, Iran seized a British flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz using special forces who boarded the ship, detained its crew and took it to an Iranian port following the UK’s seizure of a super tanker carrying Iranian oil on July 4th near Gibraltar.
Tensions have been at breaking point in Persian Gulf some time following the imposition by the US of sanctions on all Iranian oil exports over its nuclear programme and then the Iranian downing of a US drone. Last week the US also shot down an Iranian drone it claimed threatened one of its warships in the region.
The UK has promised Tehran serious consequences for the seizure and US is planning a military operation to ensure the safety of passage for all vessels through the Strait of Hormuz in the imminent future.
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