Jeremy Hunt Brands Corbyn 'Pathetic' Over Response To Gulf Tanker Attacks

In a tweet, Jeremy Hunt called the Labour leader "pathetic and predictable" (Picture: PA).

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has called Jeremy Corbyn "pathetic" after the Labour leader accused the Government of fuelling conflict with Iran.

Mr Corbyn said there was "no credible evidence" Iran was behind the attack on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman.

He called on the UK to "ease tensions" in the region, rather than "fuel a military escalation", and said "the Government's rhetoric will only increase the threat of war".

In response, Mr Hunt, who said it is "almost certain" Iran is behind the attacks, accused Mr Corbyn of failing to stand up for British interests and allies.

He tweeted: "Pathetic and predictable.

"From Salisbury to the Middle East, why can he never bring himself to back British allies, British intelligence or British interests?"

In a statement, the Foreign Office said "no other state or non-state actor could plausibly have been responsible" for the incident.

It follows the United States' view that Iran was responsible for the attack. 

The US military released a video it said showed Iran's military removing an unexploded mine from one of the tankers. 

President Donald Trump told Fox News that Iran "did do it", while Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the footage proved Iran was "responsible".

However, Iran has denied any involvement in the attack, labelling it an "unfound claim" in America’s "Iranophobic campaign". 

Tensions between the US and Iran have been rising since President Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal.

The US recently sent an aircraft carrier and bombers to the Persian Gulf, to counter what it said was a growing threat from Iran.