DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran’s Defence Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani warned {that a} proposed U.S.-backed multinational activity power to guard transport within the Pink Sea would face “extraordinary issues”, official Iranian media reported on Thursday.
Ashtiani’s feedback got here after the USA stated final week it was in talks with different international locations to arrange a activity power following a spate of assaults by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen on ships within the Pink Sea.
“In the event that they make such an irrational transfer, they are going to be confronted with extraordinary issues,” Ashtiani advised the official Iranian Pupil Information Company (ISNA) in feedback it printed on Thursday.
“No one could make a transfer in a area the place now we have predominance,” he stated, referring to the Pink Sea.
Ashtiani didn’t specify what measures Iran was ready to absorb response to the establishing of a U.S.-backed Pink Sea activity power.
U.S. Nationwide Safety Advisor Jake Sullivan advised reporters final week that Washington was in talks with “different international locations” over forming a “maritime activity power … to make sure protected passage of ships within the Pink Sea,” however didn’t give additional particulars.
Yemen’s Houthis, that are aligned with Iran, have waded into the Israel-Hamas battle by attacking vessels in very important transport lanes and firing drones and missiles at Israel greater than 1,000 miles from their seat of energy within the Yemeni capital of Sanaa.
American and French navies have strengthened their presence within the Pink Sea to guard vessels from the danger of seizure or assault by the Houthis.
(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; enhancing by Christina Fincher)
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