Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has criticised Washington, pointing out that Tehran has pursued diplomatic means to ease tensions in the Middle East, while the US has preferred to use military force.
"Coalition for Peaceful Resolution"?
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) September 20, 2019
Iran's diplomatic iniatives:
'85 Security in Persian Gulf
'97 Dialogue Among Civilizations
'13 World Against Violence
'13 Syria Peace Plan
'14 Regional Dialogue Forum
'15 Yemen Peace Plan
'17 Astana Process
'19 Regional Non-Aggression Pact
The US decided to establish an international maritime coalition earlier this year after a number of incidents near the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil transport waterway, including an attack against several ships in the Gulf of Oman in June, and a UK-Iran row that led to the seizure of the British-flagged vessel Stena Impero by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed that Washington intended to form a "coalition aimed at achieving peace and a peaceful resolution".
At present, the UK, Australia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain have joined Washington's initiative, while Iraq and numerous European countries have rejected it.
