Middle East News
Hague says Iran oil embargo is aimed at avoiding conflict
Jan 24, 2012, 17:20 GMT
London - The European Union oil embargo on Iran is aimed at reducing the risk of conflict and induce Iran to return to the negotiating table, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Tuesday.
Speaking in parliament, a day after the EU's decision, Hague also made clear that Britain had 'contingency plans' in place should the situation deteriorate.
'This is not a set of actions designed to lead to any conflict but to lead us away from any conflict by increasing the pressure for a peaceful settlement of these disputes,' he said.
'We have many contingency plans for many contingencies ... but we are not planning to take military action in the Gulf,' he added.
Earlier Tuesday, British Defence Secretary Philip Hammond did not rule out the deployment of military reinforcements to the Gulf if the dispute with Iran escalates.
'The UK has a contingent capability to reinforce that presence should at any time it be considered necessary to do so,' said Hammond.
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