As Iran carried out military parades to commemorate the anniversary of the start of the Iran-Iraq war in 1980, Iran’s president said his country should lead security in the region.
Hassan Rouhani said on his website: “We will present a plan to the world at the United Nations that the Islamic Republic of Iran, in cooperation with the countries of the region, can create security for the Persian Gulf and the Oman sea with the help of the countries of the region.”
In recent months, Iran has seized or attempted to seize several ships in the Strait of Hormuz that it accused of violating the rules of “safe passage” or smuggling fuel, prompting the US and UK to send more ships and military personnel to the Gulf.
Saudi Arabia and the US have also accused Iran of launching drone attacks on a Saudi oil refinery.
Tehran has denied involvement in the attack on 14 September, which was initially claimed by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.
Iran, meanwhile, is angry the US has pulled out of a 2015 landmark deal to end sanctions in exchange for commitments to limit its nuclear programme.
Mr Rouhani said the presence of foreign forces in the Gulf could cause problems for the world’s “energy security” and said he would offer a regional peace plan during his visit to the UN General Assembly this week, where nuclear proliferation is one of the subjects being discussed.
A senior Saudi official said late on Saturday night that if an investigation shows that last week’s attack on the Saudi oil facility was launched from Iranian territory, the kingdom would consider it an act of war, but Riyadh was seeking a peaceful resolution.
“We hold Iran responsible because the missiles and the drones that were fired at Saudi Arabia… were Iranian-built and Iranian-delivered,” minister of state for foreign affairs Adel al Jubeir told CNN late on Saturday.
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Earlier, he told Sky News his country would do whatever it takes to defend itself against Iran.
He told Sky’s Mark Stone: “Will do whatever it takes to prevent our country from sustaining damages. Preparing for war? War is always the last option.”
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his country would not be joining the US, UK, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab nations in a coalition to secure the area’s waterways and vital oil trade routes.
Boris Johnson discussed Iran with the Emir of Qatar in Downing Street on Saturday, and also pledged commitment to Qatar’s security.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “They agreed the war in Yemen must come to an end. They also discussed the recent attacks on the Aramco oil facilities in Saudi Arabia.
“Additionally they shared concern over Iran’s destabilising behaviour and agreed the importance of negotiation in de-escalating regional tensions.”
Meanwhile, the United Nations’ envoy for Yemen has welcomed the Houthi rebels’ vow that they will stop attacking Saudi Arabia, saying it “could send a powerful message of the will to end the war” in the country.
