Iran will respond in kind if US makes trouble for Venezuela-bound oil tankers in Caribbean: President Rouhani

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani warns of retaliatory measures against the United States should Washington make "trouble" for Iranian tankers carrying fuel to gasoline-starved Venezuela.

"If our tankers in the Caribbean or anywhere in the world face trouble [caused] by the Americans, they (the US) will also be in trouble in kind," Rouhani said in a phone conversation with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on Saturday.

He added that Iran attaches special significance to regional security and emphasized that some US measures in different parts of the world have led to "unacceptable conditions" but "we will never initiate any tension or conflict at all."

Iran reserves the legitimate right to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity and secure its own interests, Rouhani said, adding, "We hope the Americans do not make a mistake."

The Iranian president stressed the importance of strengthening joint cooperation amid the current coronavirus pandemic and said, "However, the United States of America continues to make wrong decisions and keeps it inhumane approaches."

He once again emphasized that regional security should be maintained by countries in the region, adding, "We have always expressed our readiness for more cooperation with neighboring countries."

According to Refinitiv Eikon tracking data, a flotilla of five tankers carrying Iranian fuel for Venezuela is approaching the Caribbean, with the first expected to reach the South American country’s waters on Sunday.

The shipments have infuriated the United States as both Iran and Venezuela are under US sanctions. Washington has threatened to take measures in response especially against Iran, according to a senior US official, who did not provide further details.

In a letter to United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres last week, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif issued a stern warning against the provocative acts by the US which has dispatched its naval forces to the Caribbean Sea with the goal of disrupting the course of the Iranian tankers heading to Venezuela.

Iran FM: Threatening Iranian tankers by US amounts to piracy, jeopardizes intl. peace

In a letter to the UN chief, Iran

Zarif described "the illegal, dangerous and provocative US threats [against the Iranian tankers]" as a form of piracy and a big threat to international peace and security.

Venezuela's Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said Wednesday that Caracas will send planes and ships to escort Iranian tankers arriving with fuel to the country in case of any US aggression.

Venezuela says will escort Iran tankers carrying fuel in case of US aggression

Venezuela defense minister says Caracas will send planes and ships to escort Iranian tankers arriving with fuel to the gasoline-starved country in case of any US aggression.

He added that Venezuela's navy and air force will welcome the Iranian tankers bound for the Latin American country, seeing them through the nation's maritime territory and into port.

Read more:

• Iran: US bears responsibility for any foolish act against tankers heading to Venezuela
• ‘Direct war’ to follow if US attacks Iran tankers to Venezuela
• Iran to US: We will brook no harassment of our oil tankers in intl. waters
• Iran monitoring US military, to respond to threat to interests anywhere in world: Top general

Elsewhere in the Saturday phone call, Rouhani called for promotion of Tehran-Doha relations in various fields, particularly in economic and commercial sectors, and said both countries should revive economic cooperation in line with health protocols amid the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

Qatar to make utmost efforts to prevent new tension

The Qatari emir, for his part, said his country opposes any tension in the region and would do its utmost to reduce tensions.

Qatar strongly believes that regional security must be ensured through cooperation among all countries in the region, he added.

Al Thani emphasized that Iran and Qatar should make efforts to further boost economic cooperation.

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