UK: Iran Shares Responsibility for Preventing Red Sea Attacks

British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Cameron speaks during a press conference with Egypt's Foreign Minister in Cairo, Egypt, 21 December 2023. EPA/MOHAMED HOSSAM
British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Cameron speaks during a press conference with Egypt's Foreign Minister in Cairo, Egypt, 21 December 2023. EPA/MOHAMED HOSSAM
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UK: Iran Shares Responsibility for Preventing Red Sea Attacks

British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Cameron speaks during a press conference with Egypt's Foreign Minister in Cairo, Egypt, 21 December 2023. EPA/MOHAMED HOSSAM
British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Cameron speaks during a press conference with Egypt's Foreign Minister in Cairo, Egypt, 21 December 2023. EPA/MOHAMED HOSSAM

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said on Sunday he had made clear in a call with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian that Iran shared responsibility for preventing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

"I made clear that Iran shares responsibility for preventing these attacks, given their long-standing support to the Houthis," he said in a post on social media site X, adding that the attacks "threaten innocent lives and the global economy".

US Navy helicopters sank three of four small boats used by the Houthis to attack a merchant vessel in the southern Red Sea on Sunday, US central command (CENTCOM) said on X.

Helicopters from the USS Eisenhower and USS Gravely, responding to distress calls from the Maersk Hangzhou, returned fire on the Houthi boats in self-defense and sank three of the vessels with no survivors.

The fourth boat fled the area.



Taliban Say India Is a ‘Significant Regional Partner’ after Meeting

Photo: AFP
Photo: AFP
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Taliban Say India Is a ‘Significant Regional Partner’ after Meeting

Photo: AFP
Photo: AFP

The Taliban's foreign office said they saw India as a "significant regional and economic partner" after meeting with its most senior foreign ministry official, the highest level talks with Delhi since their takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.
India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met acting Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai on Wednesday.
Afghanistan's foreign ministry said in a statement that they had discussed expanding relations with Afghanistan and to boost trade through Chabahar Port in Iran, which India has been developing for goods to bypass the ports of Karachi and Gwadar in its rival Pakistan, Reuters reported.
"In line with Afghanistan's balanced and economy-focused foreign policy, the Islamic Emirate aims to strengthen political and economic ties with India as a significant regional and economic partner," the statement from Afghanistan's foreign ministry said late on Wednesday.
India's foreign ministry said after the Delhi meeting that India was considering engaging in development projects in Afghanistan and looking to boost trade ties.
No foreign government, including India, officially recognizes the Taliban administration.
However, India is one of several countries with a small mission in Kabul to facilitate trade, aid and medical support and has sent humanitarian aid to Afghanistan under the Taliban.
Regional players including China and Russia have signaled they are willing to boost trade and investment in Afghanistan.
The Delhi meeting could ruffle Pakistan, which borders both countries and has fought three wars in the past against India.
Pakistan and Afghanistan also have a strained relationship, with Pakistan saying that several militant attacks that have occurred in its country have been launched from Afghan soil - a charge the Afghan Taliban denies.
Earlier this week India's foreign office told journalists they condemned airstrikes conducted late last year by Pakistan on Afghan soil.