‘Risk of WAR is great’ Iran issues CHILLING warning

[schwartzie]

‘Risk of WAR is great’ Iran issues CHILLING warning to Israel and US

IRAN has blamed Israel of trying to provoke a war and warned the risk of armed conflict in the troubled region is great.

By SIMON OSBORNE

PUBLISHED: 11:19, Sun, Feb 17, 2019 | UPDATED: 11:40, Sun, Feb 17, 2019


Tensions in the Middle East have reached boiling point and Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif claimed the behaviour of Israel and the US had increased the chance of war. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference Mr Zarif said: "Certainly, some people are looking for war - Israel.” Accusing Israel of violating international law after bombing campaigns in Syria, Mr Zarif also criticised European powers for not calling out Israel and the US for their actions in the region.



He said: “The risk of war is great. The risk will be even greater if you continue to turn a blind eye to severe violations of international law.



"Israeli behaviour is putting international law on the shelf, US behaviour is putting international law on the shelf."



Mr Zarif, who said Iran was committed to a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers for now, also accused France, Britain and Germany of not doing enough to ensure Tehran received the economic benefits of that accord.



Mr Zarif’s comments in Muncih came after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani declared Iran was ready to work with all of its neighbours to secure peace in the Middle East in the face of US and Israeli aggression in his latest attempt to weaken ties between regional rival Saudi Arabia and the US.


Iran and Saudi Arabia have been fighting proxy wars for years, backing opposing sides in conflicts in Syria and Yemen.



But pressure is building on Tehran after Donald Trump pulled the US out of the nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions in a move welcomed by the Saudis.



Mr Rouhani said: “Iran is ready to work with regional states to preserve security in the Middle East.



"We want to establish brotherly ties with all countries of the region. Iran has never started any aggression in the region. Those regional states that believe Israel and America can establish security are wrong. We, the Muslims, should ensure the regional security.”


Mr Rouhani said the US approach towards his country was doomed to failure.



He said: ”We will not succumb to pressure from America and Israel.



Tehran has suggested it could take military action in the Gulf to block other countries' oil exports in retaliation for US sanctions intended to halt its sales of crude.



Iran has also accused Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates of supporting militant Sunni groups that carry out attacks against Iranian forces, including a suicide bombing on Wednesday in Iran's southeastern province that borders Pakistan.


Sunni group Jaish al Adl (Army of Justice), which says it seeks greater rights and better living conditions for the ethnic minority Baluchis, claimed responsibility for the attack that killed 27 members of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards Corps.



The Revolutionary Guards have threatened Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Pakistan with retaliation.



Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Pakistan deny backing the militants. Iran's foreign ministry has summoned Pakistan's ambassador to protest about Wednesday's attack.



link