Iranian ambassador warns UK against further provocation
Iran’s ambassador to the United Kingdom has warned London against further provocation, as reports emerge that the British government is considering freezing Iranian assets and may take other measures as well in a standoff between the two countries over the mutual seizure of tankers.
“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,” Hamid Baeidinejad tweeted on Sunday. “This is quite dangerous and unwise at a sensitive time in the region.”
He added, however, that Iran “is firm and ready for different scenarios.”
On Friday, Iran seized a British-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf “for failing to respect international maritime rules.” The tanker failed to respond to pertinent authorities after an accident involving an Iranian fishing boat and changed route instead.
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