Political opportunism feeding rising tensions with Iran | Letters
What on earth did the UK government expect to happen (Iran stokes tensions in the Gulf by seizing British-linked oil tankers, 20 July)? By detaining the Iranian tanker Grace 1 weeks ago, apparently at the behest of the US, the UK immediately put at risk not only the safety of all British-flagged shipping operating in the Gulf, but also the efforts to rescue the nuclear deal with Iran.
The sensible approach, using all diplomatic means to organise a quid pro quo deal on the tankers, with the future release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe also included, is probably asking too much of a government so in thrall to Trump's Twitter account. Instead Britain's response will more likely be one aimed at getting his approval, threatening Iran with dire consequences without, of course, stating what they might be.
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