Iran warns UK about ‘ consequences ’ of oil tanker seizure
President Hassan Rouhani warns the UK about the “consequences” of its recent seizure of an Iranian supertanker.
“I remind [this] to the Britons,” the President cautioned on Wednesday, “You are the ones initiating insecurity, and will come to realize its consequences in the future.”
President Rouhani, who was addressing a government meeting in Tehran, called the action “very juvenile, heinous, and wrongful” and “to their [Britain’s] detriment,” noting that all international efforts should instead be focused on ensuring maritime security.
The President further said the British forces took the move “on someone else’s behalf,” referring to various accounts, including a statement by Spain’s Foreign Ministry, which have revealed that the UK carried out the confiscation at the United States’ behest.
He also noted that the UK seized the vessel inside a territory, which itself has seized from Spain, adding that the people of Spain had deplored the move, too.
President Rouhani also referred to a US drone violation of Iranian airspace last month, saying the incursion was “of course met with a decisive response.” The drone was downed by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).
Separately, the chief executive commented on the measures, which Iran has been taking in response to the other parties’ non-commitment to a multilateral nuclear agreement with the Islamic Republic.
Rouhani said, “They do not provide any reason why Iran should not engage in enrichment. They just say ‘it is bad’ or ‘Iranians’ intention is bad.’”
He also raised questions about the claim that enrichment activities — which carries a multitude of peaceful medicinal and technological benefits — is “bad for Iran and good for others.”
The president also said Iran’s responses to others’ refusal to honor their nuclear commitments “will be gradual, but exponential.”
He, however, said the primary objective sought by the countermeasures is to invite others to preserve the agreement and respect international conventions, referring to the fact that the deal has been approved in the form of a UN Security Council resolution and has to be abided by accordingly.
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