Iran warns ‘Israel’ against involvement in Strait of Hormuz

Tehran (QNN)- Iran has warned Israel against aiding a United States-led maritime mission in the Gulf, saying it reserved the right to confront such a “clear threat”.

The comments on Friday were made by foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi after Israeli media reported that Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz had told colleagues in a closed-door meeting on Tuesday that the country was assisting the US-led coalition with intelligence and other unspecified aid.

Iran’s Defense Minister, Amir Hatami, also warned on Thursday that the formation of a US-led flotilla in the Gulf would “increase insecurity” and that any Israeli involvement would have “disastrous consequences” for the region, AFP reported.

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

Israeli officials have declined to confirm or deny the reports about Israel’s involvement in the naval mission that the US has said is needed to “combat Iranian aggression” in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the right to counter this threat and defend its territory within the framework of the country’s deterrence and defensive policy, and will have no hesitation in translating it into action as part of its defensive policies,” said Mousavi.