Iran FM warns UN over US persecution of Iranian oil-tankers
Iran's foreign minister has sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General and warned him over the US moves to send the navy to the Caribbean with the intention of interfering and disrupting Iran's fuel shipments to Venezuela.
In his letter to Antonio Guterres on Sunday, Mohammad Javad Zarif considered the US illegal maritime threats against international peace and security and stressed the US must abandon bullying and show respect for the international rule, especially in navigation in high seas.
Reminding the US government of its responsibility for the consequences of any illegal activity, Zarif stressed Iran's right to take appropriate and necessary measures to counter the threats.
Subsequently, Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Seyed Abbas Araghchi summoned the Swiss Ambassador as the interests section of the US government in Iran and called for conveying to the US a serious warning of Iranian authorities about any possible US threat against Iranian tankers.
Araqchi also considered Iran-Venezuela ties legal, noting that the US resorting to acts of bullying is a threat to free navigation, international trade, and free flow of energy, being considered as obvious piracy and sheer violation of international law and UN Charter.
He warned that any threat against Iranian tankers would be met with an immediate and decisive response from Iran and that the US government would be responsible for the consequences.
The Swiss ambassador also announced that he would immediately forward the message to the US government officials.
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