TEHRAN, Iran, July 29 (NNN-IRNA) – “European plan to potentially deploy its naval forces to the Gulf bears a hostile message,” Iran’s government spokesman, Ali Rabiei, said on Sunday.
“The security of the region should be provided by the regional states, and Iran has a pivotal role in providing this security,” Rabiei said, at his weekly press conference.
“We hear that they (Europeans) intend to bring a European fleet to the Gulf. We believe that such measures are dangerous under current circumstances,” Rabiei said, adding that, “such measures bear a hostile message and would stir tensions.”
The British government proposed the idea of deployment of a joint European naval mission to the Gulf, last Monday, to escort oil tankers.
Last week, Iran seized the British oil tanker, Stena Impero, at the Strait of Hormuz, after the UK authorities detained an Iranian oil tanker earlier this month, at the Strait of Gibraltar, on the allegations that “it was breaching EU sanctions on Syria.”
Iran has denied that its tanker was heading to Syria, saying that, the Stena Impero was only captured, for “violating maritime regulations.”– NNN-IRNA
