UK’s Cameron says Iran ‘a thoroughly malign influence in the region and the world’

LONDON — UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron brands Iran “a thoroughly malign influence in the region and in the world” in an interview in which he also pledges stepped-up deterrence towards Tehran.

The former British prime minister’s warning echoes accusations by the United States that Iran is involved in attacks on commercial ships by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, providing drones, missiles and tactical intelligence.

Cameron, who this week visited the region and discussed with his Egyptian counterpart Israel’s war in Gaza as well as the volatile situation in the Red Sea, accuses Tehran of aiding various “proxies” there.

“Iran is a thoroughly malign influence in the region and in the world — there’s no doubt about that,” he tells the Sunday Telegraph newspaper.

“You’ve got the Houthis, you’ve got Hezbollah, you’ve got the Iranian-backed militias in Iraq that have actually been attacking British and American bases, troops. And, of course, Hamas.

“So you’ve got all of these proxies, and I think it’s incredibly important that, first of all, Iran receives an incredibly clear message that this escalation will not be tolerated.”

Britain’s top diplomat, who returned to frontline politics last month after stepping down as prime minister in the aftermath of losing the 2016 Brexit referendum, says London will increase cooperation with its allies over Tehran.

“We need to work with our allies to develop a really strong set of deterrent measures against Iran, and it’s important that we do that,” he added.

“The level of danger and insecurity in the world is at an extremely high level compared with previous years and decades, and the Iran threat is a part of that picture.”