“Only prudence and foresight can thwart such ploys,” he underlined.

The Iranian minister was referring to the detention of a British-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, which had violated international regulations, and even it was a threat to the environment in the event of a collision with other vessels in the region with its transponder switched off.

Iranian ambassador to London, Hamid Baeidinejad, has also called on the UK government to contain those domestic political forces who want to escalate existing tension between Iran and the UK over the tanker incident.

“UK government should contain those domestic political forces who want to escalate existing tension between Iran and the UK well beyond the issue of ships,” wrote Iranian ambassador to London, Hamid Baeidinejad, in a tweet on Sunday.

His tweet was also in reaction to certain speculations that the UK was reportedly considering imposing sanctions on Iran in response to the tanker seizure.

“This is quite dangerous and unwise at a sensitive time in the region,” said Baeidinjad, adding, “Iran however is firm and ready for different scenarios.”

Meanwhile, during a phone conversation between Iranian and British foreign ministers on Saturday, Iran’s Zarif reiterated that unlike the UK’s unlawful seizure of the vessel carrying Iran’s oil, the Islamic Republic’s move was carried out upon the request of Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran given the vessel’s violation of regulations.

Zarif noted that the case must be pursued through judicial and legal channels.

Zarif and Hunt also highlighted the importance of finding lawful solutions and avoiding heightened tensions.

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His tweet followed a phone conversation between Iranian and British foreign ministers over the issue, during which Zarif called on Britain to accelerate efforts meant to release the Iranian oil tanker, while Jeremy Hunt said, according to his tweet, that “UK would facilitate release if we received guarantees that it would not be going to Syria.”

The phone conversation took place ten days after British naval forces seized the Iran-operated Grace 1 supertanker off the coast of Gibraltar on alleged suspicion of carrying crude oil to Syria, which has been under EU sanctions since 2011.

Spain, which challenges the British ownership of Gibraltar, has, however, said the seizure was prompted by a US request to Britain and appeared to have taken place in Spanish waters.

The Islamic Republic has condemned the seizure as “piracy,” vowing to employ all its political and legal capacities to secure the release of the vessel.

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Emphasizing the illegality of US oil sanctions, the Iranian foreign minister said in the telephone conversation that the Islamic Republic of Iran will continue to export its oil under any circumstances.

With regard to the legal destination of the Grace 1 in the eastern Mediterranean, Zarif added that the European Union, which has constantly opposed US secondary sanctions, cannot take such action.

He called on the British government to immediately take necessary actions to put an end to the illegal seizure of the Iranian tanker.

With regard to the British-Iranian dual nationals imprisoned in Iran like the case of Nazanin Zaghari, the top Iranian diplomat said that “the arrest and trial of these individuals were based on completely legal procedures, and the British government is expected to respect the rule of law and the independence of the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Prior to this statement by Iranian Foreign Ministry on Zarif and Hunt’s phone call this afternoon, the UK foreign secretary had posted tweets, saying that his country may release the oil tanker if is receives guarantees that it would not sail towards Syria, following due process in Gibraltar courts.

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This move by the UK Government does not in itself create any new legal status either internally or internationally, but merely reflects a political decision by the government of the United Kingdom, which is contrary to even its explicit legal positions in international communities, Ghasemi noted.

He argued that “what is certain is that, firstly, the British government lacks goodwill regarding the move, and secondly, the move is not considered constructive or positive in any way, and if it does not complicate the situation, it will certainly not simplify that.”

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced on Friday that London had decided to give Zaghari diplomatic protection “as part of the Government’s continuing efforts to secure her release.”

“Affording diplomatic protection in Nazanin’s case represents formal recognition by the British Government that her treatment fails to meet Iran’s obligations under International law and elevates it to a formal State to State issue,” a statement by the UK Foreign Office said.

“I have today decided that the UK will take a step that is extremely unusual and exercise diplomatic protection,” Hunt said in a video message.

In reaction to Hunt’s statement, Iranian Ambassador to London Hamid Baeidinejad said the UK government’s extension of diplomatic protection to Zaghari contravenes international law.

“Govts may only exercise such protection for own nationals. As UK Govt is acutely aware, Iran does not recognize dual nationality. Irrespective of UK residency, Ms Zaghari thus remains Iranian,” he said in a Friday tweet.

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Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghasemi, stressing that Yemen is an independent country and only Yemenis can decide on their country, said “Iran has given no commitment to any country on Yemen.”

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The British parliament will vote later on Thursday on Prime Minister Theresa May’s plan for an agreement with the European Union on the terms of its withdrawal from the bloc. Britain is due to quit the EU on March 29.

“I agree that in December it was difficult to spot a solution. Now, however, it is clear that the parliament will support the divorce deal in the current shape, with one exception – the backstop,” Hunt said in an interview in the newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza published on Thursday, Reuters reported.

“If we change one thing – the entry that could potentially lock the United Kingdom in the customs union without an option to leave – the remaining part of the agreement will gain the support. I am sure this will work out.”

Hunt also said that it was “pointless” to delay the Brexit process without any agreement.

Last month, EU President Donald Tusk said British leaders who sold Brexit with no plan for how to deliver it deserve a “special place in hell”.

“I would think that there is a special place in heaven for those who respect democracy. Brexit was the biggest test for democracy that we have ever had,” Hunt told Gazeta Wyborcza.

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