Iran sends incendiary warning to Israel as war fears surge – ‘Smoke over Tel Aviv’

The coalition was created after last months seizure of a UK registered oil tanker by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. A number of oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz have also been hit by explosions, which the US has blamed on Tehran. The extraordinary warning to Israel was issued by Speaker Hossein Amir Abdollahian.

Writing in English on Twitter he commented: “If Israel enters the Strait of Hormuz, it will be engulfed in the wrath of the region and its smoke will rise from Tel Aviv.”

He also said: “Iran has a vital role in security of the Hormuz Strait.

“Any US led military coalition in the Hormuz Strait is a repetition of Iraq/Afghanistan occupations and an escalation of insecurity in the region.”

Israel is preparing to provide intelligence and other assistance to the US led coalition according to Israeli media.

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Britain, which has two warships in the region, has already joined the coalition.

However a number of other countries including Germany, Japan and Australia have declined to participate, apparently fearing being dragged into a war with Iran.

Israeli officials are currently refusing to comment on reports of the country’s involvement in the coalition.

After the claims were made Iranian foreign ministry statement said the action is a “clear threat to its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and a crisis-provoking and destabilising element”.

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He added: “The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the right to counter this threat and defend its territory within the framework of the country’s deterrence and defensive policy, and will have no hesitation in translating it into action as part of its defensive policies.”

President Trump pulled the US out of the Iran nuclear deal, which had been negotiated by Obama, in May 2018.

The other signatories, including Britain, Germany and France, condemned the decision.

Trump went on to reimpose sanctions on large sections of the Iranian economy.