News Corners

British foreign secretary William Hague has warned that Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons could spark ‘a new Cold War’, as Iranian warships entered the Mediterranean Sea for only the second time in more than 30 years.

On the move: Iranian naval support ship Kharg transits through the Suez Canal (Picture: AFP/Getty)

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The Shahid Qandi, a destroyer, and its supply vessel Kharg passed through the Suez Canal – perhaps en route to Syria – in a move that could create significant tensions with Israel.

It is only the second time Iranian ships have entered the Mediterranean since the 1979 revolution – but both have come within 12 months of each other.

The last time such an expedition was launched, in February 2011 when Kharg went on patrol alongside the frigate Alvand, Israel called it ‘a provocation’.

However, Iranian navy chief Admiral Habibollah Sayari proclaimed it ‘a message of peace and friendship’.

It also demonstrated ‘the might’ of Iran, he added in quotes published by the Irna news agency.

The move comes as Mr Hague described the ongoing diplomatic standoff with Iran ‘a crisis coming down the tracks’.

Referring to Iran’s reluctance to sit down with diplomats from Western countries in order to fend off more sanctions, or even military conflict, Mr Hague said it is a ‘potential disaster’ for world affairs.

This is amid reports that Israel is preparing to launch missile strikes against Iranian military bases and other defence facilities, which the Jewish state believes are being used to house Iran’s nuclear developments.

The strikes could even come within the next few months, as Israel believes it is more likely to receive support from the West – especially the United States – because of the upcoming presidential election and the importance of the Jewish vote.

‘[Iran] are clearly continuing their nuclear weapons programme… [and] if they obtain nuclear weapons capability, then I think other nations across the Middle East will want to develop nuclear weapons,’ said Mr Hague.

‘So, the most serious round of nuclear proliferation since nuclear weapons were invented would have begun with all the destabilising effects in the Middle East.

‘And the threat of a new Cold War in the Middle East without necessarily all the safety mechanisms…That would be a disaster in world affairs.’

However, Mr Hague denounced Israel’s reported plans to go on the offensive against Iran, saying such action would have ‘enormous downsides’.

‘We are very clear to all concerned that we are not advocating military action,’ he told the Daily Telegraph.

‘We support a twin-track strategy of sanctions and pressure and negotiations on the other hand.’

Mr Hague, who still maintains ‘all options are on the table’, added: ‘We are not favouring the idea of anybody attacking Iran at the moment.’

There are signs that relations between Iran and the West are thawing slightly since sanctions were introduced.

The United States government has publicly expressed its desire to see Iran return to the negotiating table, with a communication received this week now suggesting this will be possible.

‘We have been reviewing Iran’s proposal to resume talks on its nuclear activities,’ US secretary of state Hilary Clinton said on Friday.

‘This response from the Iranian government is one we have been waiting for, and if we do proceed, it will have to be a sustained effort that can produce results.’

European Union High Representative Catherine Ashton, who also spoke at the joint press conference with Ms Clinton, said she is ‘cautious and optimistic’ about the prospect of talks.