Iran on Sunday 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 last week 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 U.K.-flagged vessel on July 19.
The seizure of the Stena Impero by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps 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.
Mr. Rabiei said Iran believed the security of the Gulf had to be maintained by countries in the region. “We are the biggest agent of maritime security in the Persian Gulf,” Mr. Rabiei said.
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said such a force would only make matters worse. “The presence of foreign forces will not help the region’s security and will be the main source of tensions,” Mr. Rouhani said.
Britain had ordered its Navy to escort U.K.-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
But it has so far only received a cool response from the continent to its proposal for a multi-national escort fleet that would exclude the U.S.