Jeremy Hunt, the British Foreign Secretary, sent a warning to Tehran during the World Health Assembly in Geneva. His message comes just hours after President Trump vowed to “officially end” Iran if US interests were attacked. That followed Saudi Arabia oil assets being sabotarged by Houthi rebels, in offensives Washington claims were instructed by Tehran. Mr Hunt said: “I would say to the Iranians: Do not underestimate the resolve on the US side.
The Foreign Secretary added: “They don’t want a war with Iran. But if American interests are attacked, they will retaliate.
“And that is something that the Iranians needs to think about very, very carefully.”
Mr Hunt also hit out at the Islamic sate and accused it of orchaestrating tensions.
He said the long-term solution for the Middle East region is for Iran to pull back from “destabilising activities”.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement denied Saudi media reports on Monday that it had fired a ballistic missile towards Mecca, Islam’s holiest site, at a time of heightened tensions between Tehran and Gulf Arab states allied to Washington.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said on Facebook: ”The Saudi regime is trying, through these allegations, to rally support for its brutal aggression against our great Yemeni people.”
Saudi Arabia and the UAE are leading a Western-backed coalition of Sunni Muslim states that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognised government ousted from power in Sanaa by the Houthis in late 2014.
Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV, citing eyewitnesses, reported that Saudi air defence forces intercepted two ballistic missiles above the western cities of Taif and Jeddah. The first one had been directed towards Mecca.
READ MORE: ‘Never threaten an Iranian’ Tehran reacts to Trump warning
Last night, President Trump hit out at Iran, for its perceived backing of attacks on Saudi oil assets.
Mr Trump said: “If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!”
Riyadh has accused Tehran of ordering Tuesday’s drone strikes on two oil pumping stations in the kingdom, claimed by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group.
Two days earlier, four vessels, including two Saudi oil tankers, were sabotaged off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.
Iran’s foreign minister hit back at Mr Trump’s attack saying “economic terrorism” and “genocidal taunts” won’t “end Iran”.
Mohammad Javad Zarif said: “Goaded by #B-Team, @realdonaldTrump hopes to achieve what Alexander (the Great), Genghis (Khan) & other aggressors failed to do. “Iranians have stood tall for millennia while aggressors all gone.
“#EconomicTerrorism & genocidal taunts won’t “end Iran”. “#NeverThreatenAnIranian. Try respect-it works!”
Saudi Arabia also urged Iran to tread carefully this morning.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir told a news conference: “The kingdom of Saudi Arabia does not want a war in the region nor does it seek that.
“It will do what it can to prevent this war and at the same time it reaffirms that in the event the other side chooses war, the kingdom will respond with all force and determination, and it will defend itself and its interests.”