Published 19:00 IST, September 23rd 2019
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will meet Iran's Rouhani at the UN
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on September 23 that he would meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the UN General Assembly in New York
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Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on September 23 that he would meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at this week's UN General Assembly in New York. Johnson stressed the need for a diplomatic response to the Gulf tensions and said that Britain would consider any request for military assistance. He said he wanted Britain to gap the bridge between the European friends and Americans when it comes to the crisis in the Gulf.
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UK PM: UK to work with allies to de-escalate Gulf tensions
Britain had recently kept away from accusing any party for the drone and missile attack until Saudi Arabia and the United States state Iran was responsible. Britain has also concluded that Iran was responsible for the attacks on the Saudi Aramco oil fields in Saudi Arabia.
Johnson said that the UK will partner with the US-led military effort to strengthen the Gulf region's defences. Prime Minister Boris Johnson also said that the UK would work with allies to de-escalate middle east tensions that have escalated since the September 14 attacks on the worldâs largest oil processor and an oil field.
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According to reports, Johnson will also hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Emmanuel Macron. Britain along with other European nations still sticks to an international deal designed to limit Iranâs nuclear ambitions, but Trump has pulled the U.S. out of the agreement. He said Britain will follow the situation very closely and considered to provide any help asked either by the Saudis or by the Americans.
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Iran warns of any retaliatory attacks
On the other hand, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani called on Western Powers on Sunday to leave the security of the Persian Gulf to regional nations led by Tehran. A UK official on the conditions of anonymity said some remnants of Iran made cruise missiles were found at the attack site. The official did not clarify whether Britain believes the attack was launched from Iranian soil. Iran denies all the allegations levied upon it by the US and other nations and has warned any retaliatory attacks targeting it will result in an aggressive war.
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(With inputs from AP)
13:07 IST, September 23rd 2019