Iran says won’t wage war, US deploys more troops

GENEVA/DUBAI, June 18 

President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday Iran would not wage war against any nation, while Russia told the US it should drop what it called provocative plans to deploy more troops to the Middle East. Fears of a confrontation between Iran and the US have mounted since Washington blamed its long-time foe for Thursday’s attacks on two oil tankers near the strategic Strait of Hormuz shipping lane.

Relations had already deteriorated following President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the US from an international pact under which Iran agreed curbs on its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

Since exiting that accord in May last year Trump has restored and extended US sanctions, forcing countries around the world to boycott Iranian oil or face sanctions of their own. Tehran, which has denied involvement the tanker attacks last week and in May, has urged other signatories to take action to save the nuclear pact or see Iran turn its back on the deal.

On Monday, Iran warned it would soon breach limits on how much enriched uranium it can stockpile under a 2015 nuclear deal, which had sought to limit its nuclear capabilities. Exceeding the uranium cap at the heart of the accord could prompt a diplomatic crisis, forcing the other signatories, which include China, Russia and European powers, to confront Iran.

The growing standoff drew calls for restraint from Russia and China, both signatories of the nuclear accord. China's top diplomat warned that the world should not open a “Pandora’s Box” in the Middle East, as he denounced US pressure on Iran and called on it not to drop out of the landmark nuclear deal.

Acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan announced the deployment of  1,000 more troops to the Middle East for what he said were defensive purposes, citing concerns about a threat from Iran. The new US deployment is in addition to a 1,500-troop increase announced last month in response to tanker attacks.  — Reuters