Zarif Questions US ’Coalition for Peaceful Resolution’ in Middle East

By Staff, Agencies

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif criticized Washington, pointing out that Tehran has pursued diplomatic means to ease tensions in the Middle East, while the US has preferred to use military force.

Tensions in the region escalated this week after Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates joined a US-led Maritime Coalition that aims to patrol the waters near Iran's borders.

The US decided to establish an international maritime coalition earlier this year after a number of incidents near the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil transport waterway, including an attack against several ships in the Gulf of Oman in June, and a UK-Iran row that led to the seizure of the British-flagged vessel Stena Impero by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards.