United Nations, .- The Secretary General of the UN, António Guterres, warned on Wednesday that the escalation of tension between the United States and Iran can lead to destabilize an already very “volatile” region.
Through his spokesman, Guterres said he is following with “growing concern” the “hardening of rhetoric” and the recent “incidents,” including the alleged sabotage of four oil workers in the Persian Gulf.
“It is a very volatile region and we believe that an increase in rhetoric and incidents (…) can only lead to further destabilization of this part of the world,” said spokesman Stéphane Dujarric during his daily press conference.
In full escalation of tension, USA He ordered on Wednesday to evacuate non-essential personnel from his embassy in Iraq, a country where Iran has a strong influence and where Washington says it has detected signs of possible Iranian aggression.
In the last week, the US government decided to send the Persian Gulf carrier USS “Abraham Lincoln”, the amphibious assault ship USS “Arlington”, Patriot missiles and bombers.
On the other side, the Iranian Minister of Defense, Amir Hatamí, denounced that the US has launched “an offensive against the Iranian people” and assured that the Armed Forces are prepared to respond.
Tension has skyrocketed since the United States. announced last April the end of the exemptions it had granted to eight nations or territories to continue buying oil from Iran despite the US withdrawal. of the nuclear pact with that country.
As a result, the Iranian authorities threatened to block the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which crosses a large part of the world oil, if the sanctions prevent its oil exports, vital to the economy of the Persian country.
Added to this situation is the conflict in Yemen, where an American ally such as Saudi Arabia leads the coalition fighting the Houthi rebels, backed by Tehran.
On Tuesday, the Houthis attacked with seven unmanned aircraft Saudi oil facilities, an action condemned by the UN.
“The secretary general calls on all the actors to exercise maximum restraint and to avoid any escalation in the face of high tensions,” said Dujarric. (EFEUSA)
