By Jason Groves and Ian Drury
Last updated at 7:54 AM on 24th January 2012
Britain 'will not accept' Iran's bid to develop a nuclear weapon, David Cameron warned last night, as military tensions between the rogue state and the West escalated.
In a rare joint statement with German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Nicolas Sarkozy, Mr Cameron warned Tehran it would face economic isolation unless it abandoned its nuclear ambitions 'immediately'.
They added: 'We have no quarrel with the Iranian people. But the Iranian leadership has failed to restore international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear programme. We will not accept Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon.'
Flotilla: The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (left), takes over from the USS John C. Stennis in the Arabian Sea. The USS Abraham Lincoln later led the convoy through the Strait of Hormuz yesterday
British warship: HMS Argyll, the Type 23 frigate, which joined the U.S. vessels (file photo)
Under pressure: USS John C. Stennis (L) and USS Abraham Lincoln (R) pictured last week. Yesterday they passed through the strait. Today the EU are expected to impose an oil embargo
The statement, which concluded a day of intense activity, was backed up by an 'unprecedented' package of EU sanctions, designed to suck the lifeblood from the regime – including a ban on importing Iranian oil into Europe. Tehran responded with defiance, with elements of the ruling regime warning it would shut the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz – a move that would effectively close the Gulf to shipping and send oil prices rocketing.
The United States has warned Tehran that closing the Strait, which carries one-fifth of the world's oil exports, would trigger a massive military response from the West. The message was underlined at the weekend when Britain, the U.S. and France sent six warships through the Strait. The tensions come amid mounting concern that Tehran is close to developing a nuclear weapon.
After talks to agree the new EU sanctions, Foreign Secretary William Hague said there was 'no plausible civilian explanation' for Iran's programme of uranium enrichment.
Between them, EU member states import almost 600,000 barrels a day of Iran's crude oil exports – more than a fifth of the total – although only a tiny fraction ends up in the UK. A ban on exports of gold, precious metals and diamonds from Iran has also been imposed, along with more economic and travel bans on members of the hardline regime.
Threats: Iran has stepped up threats to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's crude oil flows, in retaliation for facing sanctions
Mr Hague urged the regime to 'come to its senses' and resume talks on its nuclear programme. Leading figures in Tehran responded furiously.
Mohammad Kossari, deputy head of the Iranian parliament's foreign affairs and security committee, said: 'If any disruption happens regarding the sale of Iranian oil, the Strait of Hormuz will definitely be closed.'
Senior politician Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh added: 'In case of threat, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is one of Iran's rights.' British sources believe full closure of the Strait remains unlikely because it would bring 'huge negative consequences' for Tehran.
But they fear Iran could engage in months of threats and disruption which would ramp up oil prices in the West without sparking a full military reprisal against Iran. A Royal Navy Type 23 frigate, HMS Argyll, was part of the U.S.-led carrier group which passed through the strait, which is 21 miles wide at its narrowest point.
Threat: The USS Abraham Lincoln and USS John C. Stennis during the handover in the Arabian Sea. The departure of the USS John C Stennis prompted Iran to warn the Americans not to send any more carriers.
World map illustrating global sea trade in oil and highlighting the Strait of Hormuz
The USS Admiral Lincoln, an aircraft carrier with a fleet of 90 planes, headed the group. It was escorted by the Argyll, a guided missile cruiser and two destroyers from the U.S. Navy and a French warship. Insiders said it was unusual for a flotilla made up of ships from three separate navies to pass within a few miles of the Iranian coastline.
A defence source rejected suggestions that it was a provocative move intended to increase pressure on Iran, adding: 'It is a statement that makes abundantly clear that these are international waters and all countries need to respect that. This shows that we are working in partnership and solidarity.'
Professor Paul Stevens, a senior research fellow at the think-tank Chatham House, said he doubted Tehran would carry out its threat to blockade the strait, for fear of sparking a 'shooting war' with the U.S. Instead, he said, an oil blockade would encourage hardliners in Iran to launch a wave of terror attacks.
Professor Stevens said an oil blockade was unlikely to succeed, because Tehran could ship its oil, which makes up 50 per cent of its revenues, through pipelines to Turkey and Egypt. He added: 'History is littered with failed oil embargoes. However, the lessons of history appear to have passed by the decision makers of the EU.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...urges-Iran-come-senses-nuclear-programme.html
Last updated at 7:54 AM on 24th January 2012
Britain 'will not accept' Iran's bid to develop a nuclear weapon, David Cameron warned last night, as military tensions between the rogue state and the West escalated.
In a rare joint statement with German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Nicolas Sarkozy, Mr Cameron warned Tehran it would face economic isolation unless it abandoned its nuclear ambitions 'immediately'.
They added: 'We have no quarrel with the Iranian people. But the Iranian leadership has failed to restore international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear programme. We will not accept Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon.'
The statement, which concluded a day of intense activity, was backed up by an 'unprecedented' package of EU sanctions, designed to suck the lifeblood from the regime – including a ban on importing Iranian oil into Europe. Tehran responded with defiance, with elements of the ruling regime warning it would shut the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz – a move that would effectively close the Gulf to shipping and send oil prices rocketing.
After talks to agree the new EU sanctions, Foreign Secretary William Hague said there was 'no plausible civilian explanation' for Iran's programme of uranium enrichment.
Between them, EU member states import almost 600,000 barrels a day of Iran's crude oil exports – more than a fifth of the total – although only a tiny fraction ends up in the UK. A ban on exports of gold, precious metals and diamonds from Iran has also been imposed, along with more economic and travel bans on members of the hardline regime.
Mr Hague urged the regime to 'come to its senses' and resume talks on its nuclear programme. Leading figures in Tehran responded furiously.
Mohammad Kossari, deputy head of the Iranian parliament's foreign affairs and security committee, said: 'If any disruption happens regarding the sale of Iranian oil, the Strait of Hormuz will definitely be closed.'
Senior politician Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh added: 'In case of threat, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is one of Iran's rights.' British sources believe full closure of the Strait remains unlikely because it would bring 'huge negative consequences' for Tehran.
But they fear Iran could engage in months of threats and disruption which would ramp up oil prices in the West without sparking a full military reprisal against Iran. A Royal Navy Type 23 frigate, HMS Argyll, was part of the U.S.-led carrier group which passed through the strait, which is 21 miles wide at its narrowest point.
The USS Admiral Lincoln, an aircraft carrier with a fleet of 90 planes, headed the group. It was escorted by the Argyll, a guided missile cruiser and two destroyers from the U.S. Navy and a French warship. Insiders said it was unusual for a flotilla made up of ships from three separate navies to pass within a few miles of the Iranian coastline.
A defence source rejected suggestions that it was a provocative move intended to increase pressure on Iran, adding: 'It is a statement that makes abundantly clear that these are international waters and all countries need to respect that. This shows that we are working in partnership and solidarity.'
Professor Paul Stevens, a senior research fellow at the think-tank Chatham House, said he doubted Tehran would carry out its threat to blockade the strait, for fear of sparking a 'shooting war' with the U.S. Instead, he said, an oil blockade would encourage hardliners in Iran to launch a wave of terror attacks.
Professor Stevens said an oil blockade was unlikely to succeed, because Tehran could ship its oil, which makes up 50 per cent of its revenues, through pipelines to Turkey and Egypt. He added: 'History is littered with failed oil embargoes. However, the lessons of history appear to have passed by the decision makers of the EU.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...urges-Iran-come-senses-nuclear-programme.html
