Iran: Israel involvement in Gulf naval coalition will have ‘disastrous consequences’

Iran’s Defence Minister has warned that if there is any involvement by Israel in the formation of a naval coalition led by the United States (US) it will only “increase insecurity” and have “disastrous consequences” for the region.

In a conference call with his counterparts in Kuwait, Oman and Qatar, Amir Hatami stated: “The military coalition that America is seeking to form with the excuse of securing maritime transport will only increase insecurity in the region.”

This came in response to news of Israel’s involvement, which was disclosed by the country’s Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz during a session of the Israeli Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee on Tuesday. Hatami said Tel Aviv’s inclusion in the force would be “highly provocative and can have disastrous consequences for the region.”

Tensions in the Gulf have been increasing sharply over the past few months following attacks on oil tankers and vessels around the Strait of Hormuz in May, which the US blamed on Iran. Then followed the seizing of vessels and tankers passing through the strategic Strait, with Iran having captured a British tanker last month in retaliation for the British Navy’s seizure of an Iranian super-tanker transporting oil to Syria allegedly in violation of sanctions.

Late last week, Iran seized a third tanker belonging to Iraq sailing through the Gulf waters, accusing it of smuggling fuel to Arab countries in the area.

Relations between Iran and the West soured after the US’ unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear deal signed in 2015, imposed unprecedented sanctions on Tehran and later blacklisted its Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC).

As a result of the increased tensions, the US has deployed 500 troops to Saudi Arabia overlooking the Gulf and has been building a naval coalition to patrol the Gulf, including the United Kingdom (UK) and various European nations.

Iran won’t tolerate British piracy: Hatami

TEHRAN - Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami said on Monday that Britain’ act in seizing Iranian oil tanker was an act of piracy which will not be tolerated.

“On these days, we have witnessed a provocative act by the British government against the Islamic Republic of Iran’s oil tanker in Gibraltar. This action is against international regulation and the Europeans commitments under the JCPOA and is also a kind of piracy,” Hatami said.

On early Thursday morning, British Royal Marines in Gibraltar stormed the 300,000-ton Grace 1 and detained it, accusing it of carrying oil to Syria in possible violation of the European Union’s sanctions on the war-torn Arab country.

Iran has condemned the move as “maritime piracy” and summoned Britain’s ambassador for three times in protest. Tehran has vowed to employ all its political and legal capacities to secure the release of the vessel and uphold its rights.

On Sunday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi denied reports that the supertanker was carrying oil to Syria.

“Contrary to Britain’s announcement, the tanker was not bound for Syria, and the port mentioned is not capable of receiving such a tanker,” Araqchi told reporters at a news conference in Tehran.

The seized tanker is a 2 million barrel capacity very large crude carrier (VLCC), Araqchi said, adding it could not pass through the Suez Canal and that was why it had to go the extra mile through Gibraltar.

A top court in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar ruled late Friday that the Iranian supertanker could be detained for up to 14 more days.

“The Supreme Court has issued today’s order on the basis that there are reasonable grounds to consider that the detention of the Grace 1 is required for the purposes of compliance with the European Union (EU) Regulation 36/2012 on sanctions on Syria,” Gibraltar’s government said in a statement.

Earlier on Friday, the Associated Press reported that the vessel’s 28 crew members were being held on the ship for questioning and had not been detained under criminal procedures, citing an unnamed spokesperson for the Gibraltar government.

Spain, which challenges the British ownership of Gibraltar, has said the seizure was prompted by a U.S. request to Britain and appeared to have taken place in Spanish waters.

Spain’s acting Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said on Friday that Madrid was planning to lodge a formal complaint against the UK and was studying the circumstances and looking at how the incident is affecting its sovereignty.

U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton — an ardent hawk behind the White House’s highly hostile Iran policy — has praised the measure.

Iran marks International Quds Day

TEHRAN - Iranians poured into the streets in large numbers in different cities across the country to mark International Quds Day, which falls on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.

People and officials showed their solidarity with Palestinians who have been under the Israeli occupation for seven decades and subjected to different kinds of violence.

This year’s demonstrations revolved around the slogan of “The International Quds Day, failure of deal of the century and stabilization of the Palestine cause”.

Under the deal of the century, U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed to limit Palestine’s land to around half of the West Bank. 

The demonstrators chanted slogans of “Death to Israel” and “death to the U.S.”

International Quds Day was initiated by the founder of the Islamic Republic Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979 to express solidarity with Palestinians and oppose the Zionist regime.

Rallies are held each year in various cities around the world by both Muslims and non-Muslim communities. Many Jewish people also attend the rallies in order to draw a line between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism.

Palestine will be a place for Muslims, Christians and Jews 

Participating in the rallies in Tehran, President Hassan Rouhani said that the plots against Palestine and the noble Quds will not bear results.

“I have no doubt that the final victory belongs to Palestine which will be a place for Muslims, Christians and Jews,” Rouhani remarked.

He added, “There is no doubt that deal of the century will turn into ‘failure of the century’, and will not yield results.”

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also said that al-Quds cannot be sold. 

“The U.S. cannot sell Quds to Israel,” he said.

Ahead of Quds Day marches, Zarif issued a message on his Twitter page saying “Iran stands with Palestine”.

Pointing to the U.S. recognition of al-Quds as the capital of Israel, Zarif said, “Al-Quds (Jerusalem) is neither America's to give away nor Israel's to take.”

The chief diplomat also said Quds is “NOT for brutal accomplices to try to buy.”

He added, “Quds belongs to Palestine and Palestinians: history shows that whomever ignores this is condemned to ignominious failure.”

Muslims will practice “resistance of the century”

Ebrahim Raeisi, the Judiciary chief, said that the Muslims will practice “resistance of the century” in their opposition to the deal of the century.

Arab leaders who are accompanying Israel will be ‘ashamed’

First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri said that the deal of the century will be defeated and certain Arab leaders who accompany the Zionist regime of Israel will be ashamed.

Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner is currently leading a U.S. delegation in the Middle East seeking to boost support for the Bahrain "workshop", in which Kushner is expected to unveil the first stage of U.S. President Donald Trump's deal of the century.

A number of Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, will attend.
 
Failure of deal of century noticeable 

Ali Akbar Velayati, a top foreign policy adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, said that the deal of the century will reach nowhere and signs of its failure can be seen.

Several Palestinian American community organizations have denounced the "workshop" in Manama as "treason".

The conference is slated to be held on June 25 and 26. The meeting is supposed to bring together business, government and civic leaders from the region in order to facilitate discussions about bringing economic investments to the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

Palestinian American business and community leaders have expressed concern that the gathering is an attempt to give "Arab cover" to the maintenance of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories, Al-Jazeera reported.

Awareness is anti-dote to deal of the century 

Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami, who joined marches in the city of Zanjan, said, “Muslims’ awareness will defeat the deal of the century”.

He noted that the U.S. puts pressure against Iran, because it is aware that Iran is “core of awareness and resistance” and is able to bring the deal of the century to a failure.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has called the deal of the century as “the deal of shame" which will "go to Hell.

He also said that the Palestinian Authority will not accept the economic workshop in Bahrain or its results. Abbas said the workshop is nothing more than "illusions" and that the money promised to the Palestinians will never arrive.

Palestine belongs to Palestinians

Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, the deputy army chief for coordination affairs, said, “Today’s rallies bear the message that Palestine belongs to the Palestinians and nobody can sell it.”

Rallies have confused Israel

Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi said that the Zionist regime of Israel is close to annihilation.

“Israel and its allies have been confused. Thanks to the resistance movement, the Palestinians’ empty hands have turned into missiles. Missiles are launched whenever Israelis dare to take any action,” he stated.

Vice President for Women’s and Family Affairs Masoumeh Ebtekar said that the Iranians have stood and will continue to stand beside the Palestinians forever.

Zionist regime doomed to annihilation 

Hossein Ta’eb, the head of the IRGC intelligence body, said that Iran’s support for the Palestinians will continue powerfully.

He said that the Muslims’ participation in Quds Day rallies indicates that Israeli is nearing its end.

Yahya Rahim Safavi, a top military adviser to the Leader, said that the Zionist regime of Israel is doomed to defeat and annihilation.

Ayatollah Kazem Seddiqi, the interim Friday prayer preacher of Tehran, said, “The Quds Day is not just a day. It is a movement. It is what prevents marginalization of the Palestine issue.”

“Quds Day is the day of Islam for us,” he added.