Boris Johnson warns Iran of dangerous ‘major conflict’ after Saudi oil field attack

Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron issued a joint statement after meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York urging Tehran to agree to talks on its nuclear and missile programs and Middle East security issues. But Iran immediately ruled out the possibility of negotiating a new deal with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif claiming the European partners had were in breach of a 2015 nuclear pact.

European leaders have struggled to defuse a brewing confrontation between Tehran and Washington since Donald Trump pulled out of the deal which gave Iran access to world trade in return for curbs on its nuclear program.

Mr Trump reimposed sanctions on Iran after quitting the deal last year and went on to tighten them.

Iran has responded by gradually breaching nuclear commitments made in the 2015 accord and has set an October deadline to further scale back its nuclear obligations unless the Europeans salvage the pact by shielding Tehran’s economy from US penalties.

The joint statement from Britain, France and Germany said: “The time has come for Iran to accept negotiation on a long-term framework for its nuclear programme as well as on issues related to regional security, including its missiles programme and other means of delivery.”

Tensions reached boiling point on September 14 when key Saudi Arabian oil facilities were destroyed in an attack claimed by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group, which has been battling a Saudi-led military coalition.

The Saudis and Americans have pointed the finger at Iran and the the statement from the European leaders pulls no punches.

It says: “It is clear to us that Iran bears responsibility for this attack. There is no other plausible explanation. We support ongoing investigations to establish further details.”

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The Europeans warned sternly that the bombing of the oil facilities had raised the risk of a dangerous new conflict in the Middle East.

They said: ”These attacks may have been against Saudi Arabia but they concern all countries and increase the risk of a major conflict.

“We are committed to continuing our diplomatic efforts to create conditions and facilitate dialogue with all relevant partners interested in de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East, in the interest of preserving international peace and security, building upon our joint declaration on July 14, 2019 and G7 conclusions adopted in Biarritz.”

Mr Trump had toyed with the idea of meeting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani while both are in New York for the UN General Assembly, but the chances appear slim.

Mr Zarif said: “We haven’t received any requests this time, yet, for a meeting and we have made it clear a request alone will not do the job.

“A negotiation has to be for a reason, for an outcome, not just for a handshake.”

Speaking after arriving in New York yesterday, Mr Rouhani said Iran’s message to the world “is peace, stability and also we want to tell the world that the situation in the Persian Gulf is very sensitive”.

source: express.co.uk