Iran slams Britain’s bid as ‘provocative’

Iran yesterday slammed as “provocative” a British proposal for a European-led naval mission to escort tankers in the Gulf, amid soaring tensions over the seizure of ships.

“We heard that they intend to send a European fleet to the Persian Gulf which naturally carries a hostile message, is provocative and will increase tensions,” said government spokesman Ali Rabiei.

Britain said on Monday it was planning a European-led force to escort tankers through the world’s busiest oil shipping lane in response to Iran’s seizure of a UK-flagged vessel on July 19.

The seizure of the Stena Impero came two weeks after British authorities detained an Iranian tanker -- the Grace 1 -- off its overseas territory Gibraltar on allegations it was breaching EU sanctions on Syria.

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said such a force would only make matters worse, reported AFP.

“The presence of foreign forces will not help the region’s security and will be the main source of tensions,” Rouhani said after talks in Tehran with Oman’s minister of state for foreign affairs, Yusuf bin Alawi.

Iran yesterday invited Mike Pompeo to be interviewed by a state television anchor who was once detained in America, after the top US diplomat said he was willing to talk to its people.

Meanwhile, parties to Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal met in Vienna yesterday for emergency talks called in response to an escalation in tensions between Iran and the West that included Tehran’s breaches of the accord, reported Reuters.