US rallying allies to tackle Iran threat

The United States is rallying allies to create an international security force to protect shipping from the threat posed by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, as the British navy began escorting UK-flagged ships through the waterway after the seizure an oil tanker by Iranian forces last week.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Japan, France, Germany, South Korea, Australia and other nations had already been approached to join the security initiative. “Every country that has an interest in ensuring that those waterways are open and crude oil and other products can flow through the Strait of Hormuz needs to participate,” Mr Pompeo said in an interview on Fox News on Thursday.

The US initiative follows recent attacks on vessels in the area that Washington has blamed on Iran. The two countries are in an increasingly tense stand-off over US sanctions that seek to cut off Iran’s vital oil exports. Mr Pompeo said in earlier interview with Bloomberg TV that he would be willing to travel to Iran for talks on the current crisis. Tensions have been building since the US pulled out of a 2015 international accord with Iran to curb its nuclear programme, and re-imposed sanctions that had been lifted as part of the agreement.

“Sure. If that’s the call, I’d happily go there,” Mr Pompeo said. “I would welcome the chance to speak directly to the Iranian people.” Iran has rejected US offers to renegotiate the deal while under the pressure of sanctions and has demanded that the European signatories, including Britain, find ways to restore its access to global markets.