US to send 1,000 extra troops to Middle East as Iran envoy warns of ‘serious confrontation’

Tehran has warned it is heading for a “serious confrontation” with the United States as the Pentagon prepares to send an additional 1,000 troops to the Middle East.

The Iranian ambassador to the UK, Hamid Baeidinejad, raised fears of a conflict amid growing tensions between the two counties.

In an interview with CNN, he claimed that the US and Iran were “unfortunately headed toward a confrontation which is very serious for everybody in the region”.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was today going to Central Command, a base in Florida that oversees Middle East operations. Earlier the Pentagon released new photographs it claimed proved that Iran was linked to attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman last week.

Tehran, which denies any involvement in the explosions, has said it will no longer comply with a 2015 deal intended to limit its nuclear ambitions, claiming it would soon breach a limit set on its stockpiles of enriched uranium.

President Donald Trump abandoned the 2015 deal last year and launched new sanctions against the regime.

On state TV today, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said: “Iran will not wage war against any nation. Those facing us are a group of politicians with little experience.”

In last night’s interview, Mr Baeidinejad suggested Washington was spoiling for a fight and said the US would be “very sorry” to underestimate Iran.

Announcing the new troop deployment, acting US defence secretary Patrick Shanahan said America “does not seek conflict with Iran”, but added: “The recent Iranian attacks validate the reliable, credible intelligence we have received on hostile behaviour by Iranian forces and their proxy groups that threaten United States personnel and interests across the region.”

It was not clear exactly where the new troops would be posted. They will join 1,500 deployed to the Gulf last month.

China has warned America not to use “extreme pressure” against Iran.

The new images from the US military, many taken from a navy helicopter, are said to show Iranian forces removing an unexploded mine from the side of Japanese-owned tanker the Kokuka Courageous. The Pentagon released similar images last week.