MOSCOW, August 1. /TASS/. Russia is concerned about mounting tensions in the Gulf region, which can result in a large-scale military clash, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters at a press briefing on Thursday.
"We are alarmed at the growing conflict potential in the Persian Gulf region," she stressed. "The developments are moving towards a dangerous brink fraught with the risks of a large-scale military clash."
According to the diplomat, the United States is spurring tensions in the region on purpose, including by staging the seizure of the Grace 1 tanker carrying Iranian oil in Gibraltar, to step up its presence in the Gulf region under the pretext of ensuring freedom of navigation.
Zakharova noted that some other countries not only support Washington’s schemes, but are also trying to forge some naval coalition. "This coalition is aimed at exerting pressure on Iran rather than maintaining peace. As far as we understand, the United States is calling the shots here," she stressed. "The impression is that Washington is looking for a pretext to whip up tensions and continue its aggressive rhetoric against Iran as well as to bring about a shift to a more active phase of the standoff."
"[The Americans] are guided by their domestic political considerations, another round of the electoral cycle," Zakharova went on to say. "This vicious policy is aimed at securing voter support. More often than not, the issue at hand is manipulating the citizenry’s minds and information in the pursuit of ratings."
"The United States’ allies in these coalitions should pause to think for a moment. They are once again being dragged into someone else’s game, and they are becoming pawns in that game," the diplomat emphasized.
The Grace 1 tanker flying Panama’s flag was detained by Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory, on July 4 on the suspicion of carrying crude oil to Syria in violation of the sanctions. According to Gibraltar’s representative, there were 28 crew on board (Indian, Pakistani and Ukrainian nationals). In response to that move, the British Ambassador to Tehran was summoned to the Iranian Foreign Ministry. According to Spanish Acting Foreign Minister Josep Borrell, the tanker was detained at Washington’s request. Meanwhile, Iran has condemned the tanker seizure as an act of piracy.