British FM Warns about ‘Risk of Conflict’ between US, Iran

Britain’s Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt warns about the risk of a conflict between the United States and Iran as a result of “unintended escalation,” according to Press TV.

“We are very worried about the risk of a conflict happening by accident with an escalation that is unintended,” Hunt said on Monday in Brussels, where he has traveled for a European Union foreign ministers’ meeting.

However, he claimed that such an escalation would be accidental “on either side,” apparently underplaying the United States’ actions that have led up to the current rise in regional and international tensions.

Since its inauguration, the administration of US President Donald Trump has been leading a policy of “maximum pressure” against Iran.

 The policy has Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as its alleged mastermind and National Security Adviser John Bolton as the person who is trying his best to escalate it into military conflict.

Under the policy line, the US left a multi-lateral nuclear deal with Iran, which also has the UK and others as its signatories, last year.

It then reinstated the sanctions that had been lifted under the accord.

The moves came while the accord had been ratified in the form of a United Nations Security Council resolution, making Washington culpable for violating international law.

Washington has also been trying to reduce Iran’s oil exports to “zero,” and sent an aircraft carrier strike group, a bomber squad, an amphibious assault ship, and a Patriot missile battery to the Middle East to try to stack up pressure on Tehran.

Hunt went on to say that “what we need is a period of calm, so that everyone understands what the other side is thinking and most of all to make sure we don’t put Iran back on the path to nuclearization.”

On Wednesday, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani announced a decision made by the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), the country’s top security body, to suspend the implementation of some of the Islamic Republic’s commitments under the multinational agreement.

 EU, US Face off over Iran as Ministers Meet in Brussels

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini says the European Union fully supports the international nuclear accord with Iran after Tehran decided to scale down its commitments in response to US sanctions.

“We will continue to support it as much as we can with all our instruments and all our political will,” Mogherini said before meeting foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany in Brussels Monday.

Her announcement appeared aimed at the US whose Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was expected to show up in Brussels later in the day to talk with EU officials about Iran.

Mogherini said she was informed during the night of Pompeo’s arrival in Brussels, as she urged efforts to avoid any further escalation over the issue.

The top EU diplomat also said she was not sure if a meeting with the US secretary of state could be in the works.

“We will be here all day with a busy agenda. So we will see during the day how and if will manage to arrange a meeting. He’s always welcome obviously, but there are no precise plans at the moment,” Mogherini said.

H.M