Boris Johnson says 'worrying developments' in Iran a top priority ahead of UN assembly in New York

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said 'worrying developments' in Iran are a top priority at the UN's assembly this week.
AP
Bonnie Christian22 September 2019
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Boris Johnson has set out his priorities ahead of the United Nations General Assembly, including what he said were "worrying developments" regarding Iran as well as climate change.

The Prime Minister arrives in New York on Sunday, where world leaders will also convene for the UN's Climate Action Summit.

Speaking in a video before he took off for New York, the Prime Minister said: "I'll be talking to our American friends and to our European allies about how we can come together to dial down tensions in the Gulf, to sort out some of the issues now brewing around Iran, worrying developments there.

"Number two, we'll be looking at how we can use new technology to tackle the problem of climate change, and of course, how we can stop the tragic loss of biodiversity, habitats, species going on around the world.

"And number three, as usual, I'll be talking up the United Kingdom, after we come out of the European Union on October 31, and indeed before, as a great place to live, to work, above all to come and invest."

It comes as Iran’s president has warned foreign forces to stay out of the Gulf, after the US said it was deploying troops to the region.

Hassan Rouhani said foreign forces had always brought "pain and misery" and should not be used in an "arms race".

Mr Rouhani also said Iran would present a new Gulf peace initiative at the United Nations in the coming days.

President Hassan Rouhani said foreign forces had always brought "pain and misery" and should not be used in an "arms race".
AFP/Getty Images

The US has confirmed it is sending more troops to Saudi Arabia after a drone attack on Saudi oil facilities both nations blame on Iran.

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said the move would be "defensive in nature" but officials have not yet decided how many troops will be sent.

Soldiers and military equipment will also be sent to Saudi ally the neighbouring United Arab Emirates.

Saudi Arabia oil refinery damage in pictures

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The drone and missile attacks on the Saudi oil facilities at Abquai and Khurais earlier this month have marked continuing tensions between the US and Iran this year.

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels said they had carried out the attacks, but both the US and its ally Saudi Arabia - Iran's main regional rival - said Iran was behind them, something Tehran has strongly denied.

Saudi Arabia has said it will seek to make a case in New York for concerted action to punish and deter Iran.

Donald Trump told reporters a "strong person approach" would be showing "restraint".
AFP/Getty Images

France's foreign minister said on Sunday his country's main aim at the assembly is to de-escalate tensions between the US and Iran, and a meeting between their presidents was not the top priority.

"The meeting between (U.S.) President (Donald) Trump and (Iranian) President (Hassan) Rouhani is not the number one subject.

The priority subject is whether we can restart a de-escalation path with the different actors," Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters.

France has led a European effort to try and defuse tensions between Washington and Tehran but those efforts have stalled, with Iran reducing its commitments to a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and the United States refusing to ease sanctions that have strangled Iran's economy.

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