UK oil tanker seizure was due to maritime safety: Shamkhani
Iran’s Secretary of Supreme National Security Council in meeting with visiting Omani Foreign Minister said that unlike Britain's act of piracy on an Iranian oil tanker in the Strait of Gibraltar, Iran's action in seizing a UK oil tanker was legal and had been done in the framework of maritime international regulations.
Ali Shamkhani met Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah in the capital Tehran on Saturday.
The Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah after meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif met and discussed the latest regional developments and bilateral ties in a meeting with Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani.
"Some countries in the region with hasty and arrogant actions, beside eradication of any space to dialogue and negotiation, had been faced any possibilities for management of regional crisis with serious challenges," Ali Shamkhani told Yusuf bin Alawi.
Secretary of Iran's SNSC noted that interference of foreigners in the region has no benefit and in fact increases our problems, suggesting the security of the region should be handled by regional countries themselves and through regional cooperation.
Shamkhani referred to the seizure of UK oil tanker and Western propaganda, and reiterated that all countries should observe maritime regulations and there are no exceptions to that rule.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Shamkhani expressed deep concern about continuing Saudi-led attacks on innocent civilians of Yemen and the serious humanitarian crises in that impoverished country. Shamkhani urged the global community to stop Saudi Arabia's murderous campaign against innocent Yemeni people.
The Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi for his part emphasized the use of past experiences for confronting an increase of tension in the region and avoiding measure which creates regional unstable conditions and said military force should not be used to settle political disagreements.
The Omani Foreign Minister said all countries should observe maritime safety regulations especially in the sensitive region of the Strait of Hormuz and avoid any action which creates tension and crisis in the region.
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