IRAN has threatened to attack Israel in retaliation for any strike by US military forces in the Persian Gulf.
A huge US naval presence has built up over recent days after Washington accused Terhan of plotting to disrupt and attack its interests and allies in the region.
America is deploying an aircraft carrier group and B-52 bombers to the Persian Gulf to counter alleged, but as yet specified, threats.
But speaking to reporters, the Iranian Parliament’s vice-speaker Ali Motahhari said: “The US military forces’ deployment in the Persian Gulf is more of the nature of psychological warfare.
“They are not ready for a war, especially when Israel is within our range.”
Iran has allies Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip, but it also has a number of missiles aimed at Israel.
Tensions rose today after it emerged oil tankers — two Saudi and one Norwegian — carrying crude oil bound for the United States were hit by a “sabotage attack” off the United Arab Emirates.
But Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned today America and Iran are in danger of stumbling into a conflict.
Mr Hunt said he would be speaking to visiting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as well as European allies about fears a war could erupt accidentally.
He said: “We are very worried about the risk of a conflict happening by accident, with an escalation that is unintended really on either side but ends with some kind of conflict.
“What we need is a period of calm to make sure that everyone understands what the other side is thinking.”
Meanwhile, speaking at Westminster, ex-Admiral Lord West of Spithead said: “There are no doubt that there are powerful factions within Israel, Saudi Arabia and the US that feel an attack on Iran would be a good thing, believe it or not.
“They think that they would very quickly be able to suppress the enemy capability and then there would be a regime change.
“They are wrong. It would be an absolute catastrophe.”
Along with disruption to shipping through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, Lord West also warned there would be “outbreaks of terrorist attacks throughout the region” along with the threat of missile strikes.
He said: “Bearing that in mind are we going to give any warning to UK citizens in the region?”
Saudi energy minister Khalid Al-Falih revealed the tankers that were sabotaged suffered “significant damage” – although it was unclear what the attack involved.
He said: “Fortunately, the attack didn’t lead to any casualties or oil spill; however, it caused significant damage to the structures of the two vessels.”
On Friday, a senior Iranian cleric said the US fleet could be wiped out “with a single missile”.
And the hardline Iranian Revolutionary Guard said it was not prepared to enter into talks with President Donald Trump – who had called for negotiations over ending Iran’s nuclear programme.
Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani said: “Such irresponsible acts will increase tension and conflicts in the region and expose its peoples to great danger.”
Earlier this month, the Maritime Administration warned that US commercial ships including oil tankers sailing through key Middle East waterways could be targeted by Iran in one of the threats to US interests posed by Tehran.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman called the incidents on Sunday to ships near the coast of Fujairah “worrisome and dreadful”, and asked for an investigation into the matter.
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