City
Epaper

US failed to form coalition in Persian Gulf: Zarif

By IANS | Updated: August 5, 2019 17:35 IST

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif on Monday said that the US failed to create a naval coalition in the Persian Gulf because its allies had "refused" to join it.

Open in App

"The US is all alone in the world today. It cannot form a coalition in areas that it claims to be a superpower such as the military area," Zarif said during a press conference in Tehran.

"Today, the US is alone in the world and cannot create a coalition. Countries that are its friends are too ashamed of being in a coalition with them. They brought this situation upon themselves, with lawbreaking, by creating tensions and crises.

"Other countries are embarrassed to have their names on a list next to the US. The era of (the US being) a superpower and bullying is over," he was quoted as saying by Efe news.

The US has been seeking to form a coalition of allies to patrol waters of the Persian Gulf that has been an epicentre of escalating tensions since May when several attacks were launched on oil tankers, for which Washington has held Iran accountable.

However, Washington has been struggling to get support from allies, said the report.

Zarif also warned that Iran "would no longer ignore violations in the Persian Gulf", referring to the seizure of the British-flagged Stena Impero on July 19 in the Strait of Hormuz for allegedly breaking international maritime rules.

The Iranian top diplomat denied that the impounding of Stena Impero was in retaliation for taking the Iranian oil supertanker Grace 1 off the coast of Gibraltar, accusing London of "piracy".

On July 4, the British Royal Navy patrol vessel guards stopped the Iranian tanker on suspicion of carrying oil to Syria, a country subject to European Union sanctions.

Washington imposed severe sanctions and oil embargo on Iran in 2018 when it pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal signed by the Islamic republic and major world powers.

The White House believes that Iran is destabilizing the Middle East, with its interventions in the conflicts in Syria and Yemen and its support to Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas.

On the other hand, Iran demands to be allowed to sell its oil, the main source of its revenue.

Germany, France and the UK attempted to keep nuclear accord alive by establishing the Instex a new transaction channel to facilitate trading with the Islamic republic without violating US sanctions.

Washington criticized the trade mechanism and demanded the EU withdraw from the agreement, considering Iran as a "threat to peace in the Middle East".

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: iranuswashingtonzarifStena Impero
Open in App

Related Stories

International'No Mercy to Zionists': Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei Hits Back at Donald Trump

MumbaiMumbai: Bomb Threat Call to US Consulate Traced to Mentally Unstable Youth Upset Over Visa Rejection

InternationalOil Tankers Collide and Catch Fire Near Hormuz as Electronic Jamming Rises Due To Iran-Israel Conflict

International'Playing for Peace': Cristiano Ronaldo Sends Jersey With Message to Donald Trump Amid Israel-Iran Conflict

InternationalIsrael-Iran Conflict: US President Donald Trump Urges Iranians to Evacuate Tehran

International Realted Stories

InternationalPM Modi takes part in G7 Summit's outreach session on energy security

International"Concluding a productive Canada visit": PM Modi departs for Croatia

InternationalUS President Donald Trump to Meet Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir in Washington DC Over Lunch

InternationalIndia's friendship with Italy will continue to get stronger: PM Modi on meeting with Italian counterpart Meloni

InternationalPM Modi emphasises Global South unity at G7 Summit