Iranian boats 'tried to intercept British tanker' - BBC News

Iranian boats tried to impede a British oil tanker near the Gulf - before being driven off by a Royal Navy ship, the Ministry of Defence has said.

HMS Montrose moved between the three boats and the tanker British Heritage before issuing verbal warnings to the Iranian vessels, a spokesman said.

He described the Iranians' actions as "contrary to international law".

Iran had threatened to retaliate for the seizure of one of its own tankers, but denied any attempted seizure.

Boats believed to belong to Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) approached the British Heritage tanker and tried to bring it to a halt as it was moving out of the Gulf into the Strait of Hormuz.

Guns on HMS Montrose, the British frigate escorting the tanker, were reportedly trained on the Iranian boats as they were ordered to back off. They heeded the warning and no shots were fired.

The BBC has been told British Heritage was near the island of Abu Musa when it was approached and harassed by the Iranian boats.

Although the island is in disputed territorial waters, HMS Montrose remained in international waters throughout.

A UK government spokesman said: "Contrary to international law, three Iranian vessels attempted to impede the passage of a commercial vessel, British Heritage, through the Strait of Hormuz.

"We are concerned by this action and continue to urge the Iranian authorities to de-escalate the situation in the region."

What does Iran say?

Quoting the public relations office of the IRGC's Navy, the Fars news agency said, in a tweet, the IRGC "denies claims by American sources" that it tried to seize British Heritage.

"There has been no confrontation in the last 24 hours with any foreign vessels, including British ones," the IRGC added, according to the AFP news agency.

Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the UK made the claims "for creating tension".

"These claims have no value," Mr Zarif added, according to Fars.

Why are UK-Iran tensions escalating?

The relationship between the UK and Iran has become increasingly strained, after Britain said the Iranian regime was "almost certainly" responsible for the attacks on two oil tankers in June.

Last week, British Royal Marines helped the authorities in Gibraltar seize an Iranian oil tanker because of evidence it was heading to Syria in breach of EU sanctions.

In response, an Iranian official said a British oil tanker should be seized if its detained ship was not released.

Iran also summoned the British ambassador in Tehran to complain about what it said was a "form of piracy".

On Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani mocked the UK, calling it "scared" and "hopeless" for using Royal Navy warships to shadow a British tanker in the Gulf.

HMS Montrose had shadowed British tanker the Pacific Voyager for some of the way through the Strait of Hormuz, but that journey had passed without incident.

"You, Britain, are the initiator of insecurity and you will realise the consequences later," Mr Rouhani said.

The UK has also been pressing Iran to release British-Iranian mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who was jailed for five years in 2016 after being convicted for spying, which she denies.

Could things get worse?

Iran appears to have been attempting to make good on its threat against British-flagged vessels in the wake of the seizure of an Iranian tanker off Gibraltar.

But though this incident has a specifically bilateral dimension, it is also a powerful reminder that the tensions in the Gulf have not gone away.

And with every sign that the dispute over the nuclear agreement with Iran is set to continue, things may only get worse.

The episode may add some impetus to US-brokered efforts to muster an international naval force in the Gulf to protect international shipping.

But most worrying of all, it shows that elements within the Iranian system - the Revolutionary Guard Corps's naval arm, or whatever - are intent on stoking the pressure.

This inevitably plays into President Trump's hands as Britain and its key European partners struggle to keep the nuclear agreement alive.

What about US-Iran relations?

Media playback is unsupported on your device

The US has blamed Iran for attacks on six oil tankers in May and June.

The chairman of the US military's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, on Wednesday, it wants to create an multi-national military coalition to safeguard waters around Iran and Yemen.

The Trump administration - which has pulled out of an international agreement on Tehran's nuclear programme - has reinforced punishing sanctions against Iran.

Its European allies, including the UK, have not followed suit.

Iran's ambassador to the UN has insisted Europeans must do more to compensate Tehran for economic losses inflicted by US sanctions - otherwise Iranians will continue to exceed limits on their nuclear fuel production.

• Iran-US tensions: What's going on?
• Trumplomacy: What's the US endgame in Iran?

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48946051

2019-07-11 07:42:01Z
52780330365006

Iranian boats 'tried to intercept British tanker' - BBC News

Iranian boats tried to impede a British oil tanker near the Gulf - before being driven off by a Royal Navy ship, the Ministry of Defence has said.

HMS Montrose moved between the three boats and the tanker British Heritage before issuing verbal warnings to the Iranian vessels, a spokesman said.

He described the Iranians' actions as "contrary to international law".

Iran had threatened to retaliate for the seizure of one of its own tankers, but denied any attempted seizure.

Boats believed to belong to Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) approached the British Heritage tanker and tried to bring it to a halt as it was moving out of the Gulf into the Strait of Hormuz.

Guns on HMS Montrose, the British frigate escorting the tanker, were reportedly trained on the Iranian boats as they were ordered to back off. They heeded the warning and no shots were fired.

The BBC has been told British Heritage was near the island of Abu Musa when it was approached and harassed by the Iranian boats.

Although the island is in disputed territorial waters, HMS Montrose remained in international waters throughout.

A UK government spokesman said: "Contrary to international law, three Iranian vessels attempted to impede the passage of a commercial vessel, British Heritage, through the Strait of Hormuz.

"We are concerned by this action and continue to urge the Iranian authorities to de-escalate the situation in the region."

What does Iran say?

Quoting the public relations office of the IRGC's Navy, the Fars news agency said, in a tweet, the IRGC "denies claims by American sources" that it tried to seize British Heritage.

"There has been no confrontation in the last 24 hours with any foreign vessels, including British ones," the IRGC added, according to the AFP news agency.

Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the UK made the claims "for creating tension".

"These claims have no value," Mr Zarif added, according to Fars.

Why are UK-Iran tensions escalating?

The relationship between the UK and Iran has become increasingly strained, after Britain said the Iranian regime was "almost certainly" responsible for the attacks on two oil tankers in June.

Last week, British Royal Marines helped the authorities in Gibraltar seize an Iranian oil tanker because of evidence it was heading to Syria in breach of EU sanctions.

In response, an Iranian official said a British oil tanker should be seized if its detained ship was not released.

Iran also summoned the British ambassador in Tehran to complain about what it said was a "form of piracy".

On Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani mocked the UK, calling it "scared" and "hopeless" for using Royal Navy warships to shadow a British tanker in the Gulf.

HMS Montrose had shadowed British tanker the Pacific Voyager for some of the way through the Strait of Hormuz, but that journey had passed without incident.

"You, Britain, are the initiator of insecurity and you will realise the consequences later," Mr Rouhani said.

The UK has also been pressing Iran to release British-Iranian mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who was jailed for five years in 2016 after being convicted for spying, which she denies.

Could things get worse?

Iran appears to have been attempting to make good on its threat against British-flagged vessels in the wake of the seizure of an Iranian tanker off Gibraltar.

But though this incident has a specifically bilateral dimension, it is also a powerful reminder that the tensions in the Gulf have not gone away.

And with every sign that the dispute over the nuclear agreement with Iran is set to continue, things may only get worse.

The episode may add some impetus to US-brokered efforts to muster an international naval force in the Gulf to protect international shipping.

But most worrying of all, it shows that elements within the Iranian system - the Revolutionary Guard Corps's naval arm, or whatever - are intent on stoking the pressure.

This inevitably plays into President Trump's hands as Britain and its key European partners struggle to keep the nuclear agreement alive.

What about US-Iran relations?

Media playback is unsupported on your device

The US has blamed Iran for attacks on six oil tankers in May and June.

The chairman of the US military's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, on Wednesday, it wants to create an multi-national military coalition to safeguard waters around Iran and Yemen.

The Trump administration - which has pulled out of an international agreement on Tehran's nuclear programme - has reinforced punishing sanctions against Iran.

Its European allies, including the UK, have not followed suit.

Iran's ambassador to the UN has insisted Europeans must do more to compensate Tehran for economic losses inflicted by US sanctions - otherwise Iranians will continue to exceed limits on their nuclear fuel production.

• Iran-US tensions: What's going on?
• Trumplomacy: What's the US endgame in Iran?

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48946051

2019-07-11 07:05:16Z
52780330365006

Iranian boats 'tried to intercept British tanker' - BBC News

Iranian boats tried to impede a British oil tanker near the Gulf - before being driven off by a Royal Navy ship, the Ministry of Defence has said.

HMS Montrose moved between the three boats and the tanker British Heritage before issuing verbal warnings to the Iranian vessels, a spokesman said.

He described the Iranians' actions as "contrary to international law".

Iran had threatened to retaliate for the seizure of one of its own tankers, but denied any attempted seizure.

Boats believed to belong to Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) approached the British Heritage tanker and tried to bring it to a halt as it was moving out of the Gulf into the Strait of Hormuz.

Guns on HMS Montrose, the British frigate escorting the tanker, were reportedly trained on the Iranian boats as they were ordered to back off. They heeded the warning and no shots were fired.

The BBC has been told British Heritage was near the island of Abu Musa when it was approached and harassed by the Iranian boats.

Although the island is in disputed territorial waters, HMS Montrose remained in international waters throughout.

A UK government spokesman said: "Contrary to international law, three Iranian vessels attempted to impede the passage of a commercial vessel, British Heritage, through the Strait of Hormuz.

"We are concerned by this action and continue to urge the Iranian authorities to de-escalate the situation in the region."

Quoting the public relations office of the IRGC's Navy, the Fars news agency said, in a tweet, the IRGC "denies claims by American sources" that it tried to seize British Heritage.

Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the UK made the claims "for creating tension".

"These claims have no value," Mr Zarif added, according to Fars.

Could things get worse?

Iran appears to have been attempting to make good on its threat against British-flagged vessels in the wake of the seizure of an Iranian tanker off Gibraltar.

But though this incident has a specifically bilateral dimension, it is also a powerful reminder that the tensions in the Gulf have not gone away.

And with every sign that the dispute over the nuclear agreement with Iran is set to continue, things may only get worse.

The episode may add some impetus to US-brokered efforts to muster an international naval force in the Gulf to protect international shipping.

But most worrying of all, it shows that elements within the Iranian system - the Revolutionary Guard Corps's naval arm, or whatever - are intent on stoking the pressure.

This inevitably plays into President Trump's hands as Britain and its key European partners struggle to keep the nuclear agreement alive.

Last week, British Royal Marines helped the authorities in Gibraltar seize an Iranian oil tanker because of evidence it was heading to Syria in breach of EU sanctions.

In response, an Iranian official said a British oil tanker should be seized if its detained ship was not released.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Iran also summoned the British ambassador in Tehran to complain about what it said was a "form of piracy".

On Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani mocked the UK, calling it "scared" and "hopeless" for using Royal Navy warships to shadow a British tanker in the Gulf.

"You, Britain, are the initiator of insecurity and you will realise the consequences later," he added.

HMS Montrose had shadowed British tanker the Pacific Voyager for some of the way through the Strait of Hormuz, but that journey had passed without incident.

This latest row comes at a time of escalating tensions between the US and Iran.

The Trump administration - which has pulled out of an international agreement on Tehran's nuclear programme - has reinforced punishing sanctions against Iran.

Its European allies, including the UK, have not followed suit.

Nonetheless, the relationship between the UK and Iran has also become increasingly strained, after Britain said the Iranian regime was "almost certainly" responsible for the attacks on two oil tankers in June.

The UK has also been pressing Iran to release British-Iranian mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who was jailed for five years in 2016 after being convicted for spying, which she denies.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48946051

2019-07-11 06:07:06Z
52780330365006

Body believed to be American scientist died in Greece by 'criminal act,' coroner says - Fox News

A body of a woman found in an abandoned World War II bunker believed to an American scientist who went missing last week while attending a conference in Greece died of a "criminal act," a coroner said Wednesday.

Suzanne Eaton, a 59-year-old molecular biologist at the Max Planck Institute in Dresden, Germany, was last seen on July 2 near the port of Chania on the Greek island of Crete. Colleagues at the conference had told authorities they believed she had gone for a run in the area.

Greek police discovered her body Monday night, according to the institute.

AMERICAN SCIENTIST WHO WENT MISSING IN GREECE AFTER GOING FOR A RUN FOUND DEAD, RESEARCH INSTITUTE SAYS

State coroner Antonis Papadomanolakis told The Associated Press that final confirmation is needed to identify the body, but it was likely Eaton.

In this undated photo provided by her family, showing Suzanne Eaton, a 59-year-old molecular biologist. (AP Photo)

"The only thing we can say is that the (death) resulted from a criminal act," the coroner told the AP. "We can't give out any other details because there is an ongoing police investigation."

An examination of the remains by two local coroners indicated that she had had her mouth and nose blocked, but officials have yet to rule if her death was the result of suffocation, Greek news outlet Ekathimerini reported.

The body was discovered inside a cave that was also used as a bunker near the settlement of Xamoudochori, located about 6 miles from the place were Eaton was last seen.

Suzanne Eaton, seen in this undated photo, was reported missing on July 2. (Biotechnology Center of the TU Dresden)

"We showed respect for her remains which were found in a tunnel," Fire Service rescue team leader Nikolaos Papaleonidas said. "The recovery operation was not difficult but it followed an extensive search effort. The tunnel was about 100 meters (328 feet) from a rural road."

ENGLISH WOMAN DIED AFTER FALLING ON METAL STRAW THAT WENT THROUGH HER EYE, IMPALED BRAIN, INQUEST HEARS

Papadomanolakis told the AP he believed the woman died around the time she was last seen, on July 2.

Officials are not yet sure if the crime was committed at the scene, or if the 59-year-old was killed elsewhere and disposed of in the cave, Ekathimerini reported.

CLICK HERE FOR THE OFX NEWS APP

Eaton, who worked at the Max Planck Institute in Dresden, Germany, had been attending a conference in Crete.

The institute called her death a "tragic demise."

"We are deeply shocked and disturbed by this tragic event," a statement read. "Suzanne was an outstanding and inspiring scientist, a loving spouse and mother, an athlete as well as a truly wonderful person beloved to us all. Her loss is unbearable."

The police said officers from Athens including homicide detectives had traveled to the island to head the investigation. Authorities had launched a major search for Eaton in rural areas near Chania, helped by members of her family and fire service rescuers from Athens.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.foxnews.com/world/american-scientist-greece-criminal-act

2019-07-10 17:09:37Z
CBMiRGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmZveG5ld3MuY29tL3dvcmxkL2FtZXJpY2FuLXNjaWVudGlzdC1ncmVlY2UtY3JpbWluYWwtYWN00gFIaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZm94bmV3cy5jb20vd29ybGQvYW1lcmljYW4tc2NpZW50aXN0LWdyZWVjZS1jcmltaW5hbC1hY3QuYW1w

Trump's power play on UK envoy sends ruthless message to allies - CNN

Kim Darroch resigned Wednesday for doing his job — sending home blunt diplomatic cables about the US government some of which said Trump's White House had at times been "inept" and that the President was insecure.

He took the honorable course after the cables leaked, and his long and distinguished career was crushed by more powerful men seeking political advantage in a drama that illustrates both Trump's vanity and considerable personal power and a weakened Britain's increasing reliance on the US.

Trump was furious about the criticism in Darroch's work and made clear to London that he should be dismissed by cutting off his access to the White House, making his job impossible.

And Britain's likely next Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who wants to forge close ties to Trump, declined to offer his support for Darroch in a leadership debate on Tuesday night. A UK government source said Darroch took his decision to resign after watching Johnson effectively leave his own position untenable.

"The current situation is making it impossible for me to carry out my role as I would like," Darroch wrote in his resignation letter.

The episode sent a message to US allies — that unsparing if widely recognizable assessments of Trump's behavior and the conduct of his administration are unacceptable and that flattery is the glue binding strong diplomatic relationships with the US.

It calls into doubt the practice of diplomacy itself — that foreign states have the prerogative to decide exactly who represents them abroad rather than leaders of their host country. Ambassadors often send frank analysis of their host nation and its political personalities back to base. As the mass leak of WikiLeaks disclosures of classified US diplomatic traffic in 2010 showed, US envoys are no exception.

Trump effectively made the point that only a British ambassador who hides the reality of his chaotic, divided administration will be welcome in his White House -- a position that threatens the capacity of foreign nations to get accurate reporting and internal intelligence about what is going on in Washington.

The diplomatic storm over the Darroch cables came only a month after Queen Elizabeth rolled out lavish British pageantry for the President during his state visit to London. It is a reminder that while Trump enjoys such treatment in the moment, it rarely creates a stock of goodwill that can be depended upon to shape his policies and attitudes towards particular countries.

A victory for the President

There was no immediate comment from the President after Darroch's resignation, but his team was digesting a clear political victory for Trump.

"I think the reality was that in light of last few days, his ability to be effective was probably limited so it's probably the right course," Vice President Mike Pence's chief of staff Marc Short told reporters.

Darroch's departure shows the danger of getting on the wrong side of a President who blasted the ambassador as "wacky" "a very stupid guy" and a "pompous fool" on Tuesday.

Darroch also became the victim of the meltdown in British politics over the country's vote to leave the European Union and Trump's frequent interventions in UK politics to support it.

And it offered a reward for one of the most damaging recent leaks in British political history, after Darroch's cables ended up emblazoned across the front of this week's "Mail on Sunday" newspaper.

Trump has been outspoken in support of Johnson, who shares his populist, flamboyant and truth-challenged approach to politics, but his treatment of Darroch has left the possible new British prime minister in a difficult spot.

If Johnson wins the Conservative Party leadership election, his attitude towards Trump will come under fearsome scrutiny. If he appoints an ambassador outside Britain's diplomatic service who is sympathetic to Trump, he will be viewed as already under the President's influence.

The head of Britain's Brexit party, Nigel Farage, who wields considerable power on Johnson's right and often boasts of his friendship with Trump was quick to crank up political pressure.

"The right decision, time (to) put in a non-Remainer who wants a trade deal with America," Farage tweeted. Remainers are Britons who do not want to leave the EU and Darroch, a former senior diplomat in Brussels, was seen in the UK as sympathetic to the bloc.

If the UK finally leaves the European Union at the end of October as Johnson has promised, it will be reliant on the US for a swift bilateral trade deal to help offset the loss of preferential treatment to European markets.

Other ambassadors in Washington will now be looking closely at Britain's conduct to see whether intimidation and pressure from Trump will affect its position -- especially on other areas of disagreement with the US including over how to handle Iran.

Johnson, a former British foreign secretary, reacted to Darroch's decision by saying that the leaker had done a "grave disservice" to civil servants while speaking on Sky News.

But unlike other British politicians, he did not praise Darroch for his conduct or make any comments that might anger Trump.

The current British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Johnson's last rival in the leadership race, did praise Darroch — as did the outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May.

"Standing up for Britain means standing up for the finest diplomats (in) the world. It should never have come to this," Hunt wrote on Twitter.

CNN's Luke McGhee and Betsy Klein contributed to this story

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/10/politics/donald-trump-british-ambassador-diplomacy/index.html

2019-07-10 16:30:00Z
52780329171254

Angela Merkel denies rumors of declining health after third public shaking incident: 'I'm fine' - Fox News

German Chancellor Angela Merkel appeared to visibly shake for a third time in less than a month on Wednesday, however, she downplayed claims that her health is declining.

Merkel, 64, was seen unsteady while standing alongside Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinee during a military honors ceremony outside the chancellery in Berlin on Wednesday.

The German leader appeared to visibly shake while the two leaders stood and listened to their respective national anthems play.

ANGELA MERKEL SEEN SHAKING AT EVENT IN BERLIN, SECOND TIME IN JUST OVER A WEEK

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister of Finland Antti Rinne listen to the national anthems at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Merkel told reporters following the episode that she was “fine” and suggested that the psychological impact of the first incident was responsible for the subsequent episodes.

“I said recently that I am in a phase of processing the last military honors with President Zelenskiy. That is clearly not entirely complete, but there is progress," she said.

The first time Merkel was seen shaking was on June 18 as she stood alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at a military honors ceremony.

The second incident on June 27 rekindled concerns over her health after she was seen again unsteady at the German president's palace as she listened to his comments on the swearing-in of a new justice minister.

ANGELA MERKEL SEEN VISIBLY SHAKING WHILE STANDING NEXT TO UKRAINE’S PRESIDENT; BLAMES DEHYDRATION

Public figures' health is generally regarded as a private matter in Germany and the country's privacy laws are very strict on that type of information.

Merkel refused to answer further questions Wednesday, telling reporters who pressed the issue that "my comments on this are done today.”

Angela Merkel was seen shaking at a public event for the second time in less than two weeks. A spokesman on Wednesday dismissed any concerns over her health, saying "the chancellor is fine." (Kay Nietfeld/dpa via AP)

“I think my statement that I am fine can find acceptance," she continued. "I said that I have to process this event and that I am in this process, and I think that just as it came, it will go away one day."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP  

Merkel added that she is “very firmly convinced” that she is “entirely capable” of serving as chancellor, a position she’s held since 2005.

She announced last year that once her term ends in 2021, she will not seek a fifth term, nor will she pursue any other political job thereafter.

Merkel is set to turn 65 on July 17.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.foxnews.com/world/angela-merkel-health-third-public-shaking-incident

2019-07-10 14:46:17Z
52780329989350

Trump's power play on UK envoy sends ruthless message to allies - CNN

Kim Darroch resigned Wednesday for doing his job — sending home blunt diplomatic cables about the US government some of which said Trump's White House had at times been "inept" and that the President was insecure.

He took the honorable course after the cables leaked, and his long and distinguished career was crushed by more powerful men seeking political advantage in a drama that illustrates both Trump's vanity and considerable personal power and a weakened Britain's increasing reliance on the US.

Trump was furious about the criticism in Darroch's work and made clear to London that he should be dismissed by cutting off his access to the White House, making his job impossible.

And Britain's likely next Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who wants to forge close ties to Trump, declined to offer his support for Darroch in a leadership debate on Tuesday night. A UK government source said Darroch took his decision to resign after watching Johnson effectively leave his own position untenable.

"The current situation is making it impossible for me to carry out my role as I would like," Darroch wrote in his resignation letter.

The episode sent a message to US allies — that unsparing if widely recognizable assessments of Trump's behavior and the conduct of his administration are unacceptable and that flattery is the glue binding strong diplomatic relationships with the US.

It calls into doubt the practice of diplomacy itself — that foreign states have the prerogative to decide exactly who represents them abroad rather than leaders of their host country. Ambassadors often send frank analysis of their host nation and its political personalities back to base. As the mass leak of WikiLeaks disclosures of classified US diplomatic traffic in 2010 showed, US envoys are no exception.

Trump effectively made the point that only a British ambassador who hides the reality of his chaotic, divided administration will be welcome in his White House -- a position that threatens the capacity of foreign nations to get accurate reporting and internal intelligence about what is going on in Washington.

The diplomatic storm over the Darroch cables came only a month after Queen Elizabeth rolled out lavish British pageantry for the President during his state visit to London. It is a reminder that while Trump enjoys such treatment in the moment, it rarely creates a stock of goodwill that can be depended upon to shape his policies and attitudes towards particular countries.

A victory for the President

There was no immediate comment from the President after Darroch's resignation, but his team was digesting a clear political victory for Trump.

"I think the reality was that in light of last few days, his ability to be effective was probably limited so it's probably the right course," Vice President Mike Pence's chief of staff Marc Short told reporters.

Darroch's departure shows the danger of getting on the wrong side of a President who blasted the ambassador as "wacky" "a very stupid guy" and a "pompous fool" on Tuesday.

Darroch also became the victim of the meltdown in British politics over the country's vote to leave the European Union and Trump's frequent interventions in UK politics to support it.

And it offered a reward for one of the most damaging recent leaks in British political history, after Darroch's cables ended up emblazoned across the front of this week's "Mail on Sunday" newspaper.

Trump has been outspoken in support of Johnson, who shares his populist, flamboyant and truth-challenged approach to politics, but his treatment of Darroch has left the possible new British prime minister in a difficult spot.

If Johnson wins the Conservative Party leadership election, his attitude towards Trump will come under fearsome scrutiny. If he appoints an ambassador outside Britain's diplomatic service who is sympathetic to Trump, he will be viewed as already under the President's influence.

The head of Britain's Brexit party, Nigel Farage, who wields considerable power on Johnson's right and often boasts of his friendship with Trump was quick to crank up political pressure.

"The right decision, time (to) put in a non-Remainer who wants a trade deal with America," Farage tweeted. Remainers are Britons who do not want to leave the EU and Darroch, a former senior diplomat in Brussels, was seen in the UK as sympathetic to the bloc.

If the UK finally leaves the European Union at the end of October as Johnson has promised, it will be reliant on the US for a swift bilateral trade deal to help offset the loss of preferential treatment to European markets.

Other ambassadors in Washington will now be looking closely at Britain's conduct to see whether intimidation and pressure from Trump will affect its position -- especially on other areas of disagreement with the US including over how to handle Iran.

Johnson, a former British foreign secretary, reacted to Darroch's decision by saying that the leaker had done a "grave disservice" to civil servants while speaking on Sky News.

But unlike other British politicians, he did not praise Darroch for his conduct or make any comments that might anger Trump.

The current British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Johnson's last rival in the leadership race, did praise Darroch — as did the outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May.

"Standing up for Britain means standing up for the finest diplomats (in) the world. It should never have come to this," Hunt wrote on Twitter.

CNN's Luke McGhee and Betsy Klein contributed to this story

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/10/politics/donald-trump-british-ambassador-diplomacy/index.html

2019-07-10 14:37:00Z
52780329171254