UK has been accused of paying “blood money” to Iran by former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to ensure the release of two British-Iranian nationals. &nbsp;

These people have been held hostage by Tehran for a long time. &nbsp;

Pompeo has claimed £400 million ($530 million) was paid to Tehran for the release. It will be used to “terrorise” opponents. Pompeo is known for his hard stance against Iran. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uae-cargo-ship-carrying-30-crew-members-sink-off-coast-of-iran-463178" hreflang="en">UAE cargo ship carrying 30 crew members sinks off Iran coast</a>

UK government has said that it has put in place “rigorous safeguards” to ensure the money is not used for weapons. It will be used for “humanitarian” purposes. &nbsp;

After years of detention in Iran, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosh Ashori were released late on Wednesday. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The aircraft, which was carrying them, was not allowed to take off until the money had been transferred, reports claimed. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-nuclear-deal-close-tehran-frees-captives-as-obstacles-narrow-463055" hreflang="en">Iran nuclear deal 'close', Tehran frees captives as obstacles narrow</a>

On Wednesday, Pompeo said on Twitter, “The UK priced taking &amp; holding its citizens hostage at $530 million. We prevented paying blood money — not rewarding hostage-takers. That cash will terrorise Israel, UK &amp; US. Appeasement feels good until it fails — it always does.” &nbsp;

The money was owed for an undelivered order of tanks and other vehicles agreed between the UK and Iran’s pre-revolutionary government, Tehran's regime has said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

UK has been accused of paying “blood money” to Iran by former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to ensure the release of two British-Iranian nationals. These people have been held hostage by Tehran for a long time.

UK has been accused of paying “blood money” to Iran by former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to ensure the release of two British-Iranian nationals. These people have been held hostage by Tehran for a long time. Pompeo has claimed £400 million ($530 million) was paid to Tehran for the release. It will be used to “terrorise” opponents. Pompeo is known for his hard stance against Iran. Also Read: UAE cargo ship carrying 30 crew members sinks off Iran coast UK government has said that it has put in place “rigorous safeguards” to ensure the money is not used for weapons. It will be used for “humanitarian” purposes. After years of detention in Iran, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosh Ashori were released late on Wednesday. The aircraft, which was carrying them, was not allowed to take off until the money had been transferred, reports claimed. Also Read: Iran nuclear deal 'close', Tehran frees captives as obstacles narrow On Wednesday, Pompeo said on Twitter, “The UK priced taking & holding its citizens hostage at $530 million. We prevented paying blood money — not rewarding hostage-takers. That cash will terrorise Israel, UK & US. Appeasement feels good until it fails — it always does.” The money was owed for an undelivered order of tanks and other vehicles agreed between the UK and Iran’s pre-revolutionary government, Tehran's regime has said. (With inputs from agencies)

Former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo accuses UK of paying “blood money” to Iran for nationals’ release

Former US secretary of state <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-india-best-situated-to-grow-together-on-strategic-issues-says-henry-kissinger-257400">Henry Kissinger </a>warned Thursday that an armed conflict could break out between the United States and China if they fail to resolve their trade war.

The sober remarks from Kissinger, who was instrumental in normalising diplomatic relations between Washington and Beijing, came at a conference in Beijing on the future of the two economic giants.

"If a conflict is permitted to run unconstrained, the outcome could be even worse than it was in Europe," he said at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum.

"World War I broke out because of a relatively minor crisis ... and today the weapons are more powerful," the former top diplomat said.

China and the US have been caught in a trade dispute for 18 months, with the two sides struggling to reach an agreement despite a series of negotiations.

Tensions have also been running high on the diplomatic front.

Beijing has lashed out at Washington over US naval operations in the disputed South China Sea, US criticism of China's mass detention of ethnic Uighurs and US Congress support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.

"China is a major economic country. And so are we," Kissinger said. "And so we are bound to step on each other's toes all over the world."

The 96-year-old said that during the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union, a plan to reduce the nuclear capacity of both countries was a top priority.

But because conflicts between the US and China have always been "passive", he warned there is no framework for Washington to deal with Beijing as a "military power".

If the two sides keep seeing "every issue in the world in terms of conflict" with each other, it could be "dangerous for mankind", he said.

Kissinger said the trade negotiations were just a "substitute" for more substantial talks about conflicts between the two, including tensions over Hong Kong.

When asked if unrest in the semi-autonomous region of China could be the "flashpoint" for a new Cold War, Kissinger said he hoped the "highly emotional" issue would be "settled by negotiations."

'Wrong direction'

Former President Richard Nixon's secretary of state flew secretly to Beijing in 1971 to begin talks on new relations between the US and Communist China.

Kissinger still has the ear of top Chinese officials, who give him the red carpet treatment when he visits Beijing.&nbsp;

He held a meeting with President Xi Jinping in the Chinese capital in November last year.

In a later session at the forum, former US treasury secretary Henry Paulson said he believed the US and China "are now headed in precisely the wrong direction."

He warned of growing barriers on visas and the movement of people, restrictions on trade and technology, and that the ongoing economic tensions would "leave our countries and the entire world worse off."

"When the next crisis comes, and it will come because financial crises do come, we will regret it big time if the world's two biggest economies do not have the mechanisms to cooperate," said Paulson, who was treasury secretary under former President George W Bush.

Former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger warned Thursday that an armed conflict could break out between the United States and China if they fail to resolve their trade war.

Former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger warned Thursday that an armed conflict could break out between the United States and China if they fail to resolve their trade war. The sober remarks from Kissinger, who was instrumental in normalising diplomatic relations between Washington and Beijing, came at a conference in Beijing on the future of the two economic giants. "If a conflict is permitted to run unconstrained, the outcome could be even worse than it was in Europe," he said at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum. "World War I broke out because of a relatively minor crisis ... and today the weapons are more powerful," the former top diplomat said. China and the US have been caught in a trade dispute for 18 months, with the two sides struggling to reach an agreement despite a series of negotiations. Tensions have also been running high on the diplomatic front. Beijing has lashed out at Washington over US naval operations in the disputed South China Sea, US criticism of China's mass detention of ethnic Uighurs and US Congress support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. "China is a major economic country. And so are we," Kissinger said. "And so we are bound to step on each other's toes all over the world." The 96-year-old said that during the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union, a plan to reduce the nuclear capacity of both countries was a top priority. But because conflicts between the US and China have always been "passive", he warned there is no framework for Washington to deal with Beijing as a "military power". If the two sides keep seeing "every issue in the world in terms of conflict" with each other, it could be "dangerous for mankind", he said. Kissinger said the trade negotiations were just a "substitute" for more substantial talks about conflicts between the two, including tensions over Hong Kong. When asked if unrest in the semi-autonomous region of China could be the "flashpoint" for a new Cold War, Kissinger said he hoped the "highly emotional" issue would be "settled by negotiations." 'Wrong direction' Former President Richard Nixon's secretary of state flew secretly to Beijing in 1971 to begin talks on new relations between the US and Communist China. Kissinger still has the ear of top Chinese officials, who give him the red carpet treatment when he visits Beijing. He held a meeting with President Xi Jinping in the Chinese capital in November last year. In a later session at the forum, former US treasury secretary Henry Paulson said he believed the US and China "are now headed in precisely the wrong direction." He warned of growing barriers on visas and the movement of people, restrictions on trade and technology, and that the ongoing economic tensions would "leave our countries and the entire world worse off." "When the next crisis comes, and it will come because financial crises do come, we will regret it big time if the world's two biggest economies do not have the mechanisms to cooperate," said Paulson, who was treasury secretary under former President George W Bush.

US-China trade dispute could spark a real war, World War I broke out over relatively minor crisis: Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger

Former US Secretary of State John Kerry recently noted the significance of the Iran nuclear deal expressing that it is &quot;absolutely critical&quot; that the deal survives although the Trump administration is highly sceptical about the 2015 deal.&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump extended sanctions waivers in January. He later stated that he would not do the same at the time of the renewal in May unless his concerns are addressed.

Kerry, who is also one of the leading negotiators on the deal, spoke at the Munich Security Conference today and called the White House&#39;s stance on the nuke deal as &quot;untenable&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;It is not good diplomacy,&quot; Kerry noted.&nbsp;

Kerry noted the deal to be of the utmost importance for the world. He stated that going backwards on the agreement is not an option. &quot;Without the Iran nuclear agreement the world is not a better place,&quot; Kerry added.&nbsp;

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, on his three-day visit to India, also talked about the nuclear deal and agreements with the United States.&nbsp;

He noted that the Iranian government will adhere to any agreement that is signed with the United States.&nbsp;

&quot;If the US violates this agreement, you will see that America will regret its decision. Not only US administration, but also US people would voice their opposition immediately and will object to the violators,&quot; Rouhani added.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Kerry noted the deal to be of the utmost importance for the world

Former US Secretary of State John Kerry recently noted the significance of the Iran nuclear deal expressing that it is "absolutely critical" that the deal survives although the Trump administration is highly sceptical about the 2015 deal. US President Donald Trump extended sanctions waivers in January. He later stated that he would not do the same at the time of the renewal in May unless his concerns are addressed. Kerry, who is also one of the leading negotiators on the deal, spoke at the Munich Security Conference today and called the White House's stance on the nuke deal as "untenable". "It is not good diplomacy," Kerry noted. Kerry noted the deal to be of the utmost importance for the world. He stated that going backwards on the agreement is not an option. "Without the Iran nuclear agreement the world is not a better place," Kerry added. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, on his three-day visit to India, also talked about the nuclear deal and agreements with the United States. He noted that the Iranian government will adhere to any agreement that is signed with the United States. "If the US violates this agreement, you will see that America will regret its decision. Not only US administration, but also US people would voice their opposition immediately and will object to the violators," Rouhani added.

Iran nuclear deal must survive: Former US Secretary of State John Kerry