Hunt: 'We Want To Reduce Not Raise Tensions' With Iran

The Foreign Secretary is to take part in 'urgent talks on how to reduce tensions with Iran' (Picture: PA).

Jeremy Hunt is to launch a fresh diplomatic bid to prevent the Iran nuclear deal unravelling and to ease tensions in the Gulf.

The Foreign Secretary will travel to Brussels on Monday for an "urgent" meeting of EU foreign ministers to seek support from the European signatories to the agreement.

In a joint statement ahead of the meeting, France, Germany and the UK said they were "deeply troubled" by recent events in the region and urged the US and Iran to draw back from conflict.

"We believe the time has come to act responsibly and seek a path to stop the escalation of tensions and resume dialogue," the statement said.

"The risks are such that it is necessary for all stakeholders to pause and consider the possible consequences of their actions."

Posting on Twitter, Mr Hunt said he wanted to "reduce tensions" over the seizure of the Grace 1 supertanker, but hinted that Iran would face consequences if it did not abide by the terms of the nuclear deal.

He said: "Heading to Brussels for urgent talks on how to reduce tensions with Iran.

"Their approach to Mid East has been profoundly destabilising but we want to reduce not raise tensions over Grace 1 and avoid a nuclearised region.

"But a deal is a deal and if one side breaches it..."

Mr Hunt's visit to Belgium comes after he offered to help secure the release of the Iranian supertanker Grace 1 held in Gibraltar after being detained in an operation involving British Royal Marines.

In a telephone call with Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday, Mr Hunt sought to reassure him the vessel was intercepted over suspicions it was carrying oil to Syria - and not because it was Iranian.

He said he had offered to facilitate the tanker's release in return for guarantees from Tehran that it would not breach EU sanctions on the Assad regime.

The move comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf following Donald Trump's decision to unilaterally withdraw the US from the nuclear deal.

Last week, a Royal Navy warship intervened to drive off Iranian patrol boats after they approached a British tanker as it sailed through the Strait of Hormuz.

It prompted fears the Iranians were trying to seize a UK ship in retaliation for the detention of the Grace 1.

It was the latest in a series of incidents in the region prompting fears of a slide into all-out conflict.

The US has urged European allies to take a tougher stance on Iran as EU foreign ministers gather in Brussels.

Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU, said: "I think that the time for reflection is over.

"I think it's time to act, and by acting, I mean that our European friends should join the US in unequivocally condemning Iran's actions with respect to their malign activities, not just in the Strait of Hormuz but throughout the world."

In recent weeks, the US has sent thousands of troops, an aircraft carrier, nuclear-capable B-52 bombers and advanced fighter jets to the Middle East.

Iran, meanwhile, has begun exceeding limits on uranium enrichment agreed in the 2015 deal amid frustration in Tehran at the return of crippling US economic sanctions.

While the Europeans say they still support the agreement - which lifted sanctions in return for Iran curbing its nuclear programme - in practice they have found it difficult to get around the US measures.

Ahead of the meeting in Brussels, Mr Hunt said: "The Middle East is already one of the most unstable regions in the world, but if the different parties were armed with nuclear weapons it would represent an existential threat to mankind.

"I will do everything in my power to prevent that from happening.

"I'll be building on the leadership shown by the UK, alongside France and Germany, as we do what it takes to maintain the nuclear deal, and to work to encourage Iran back into compliance."