Iran's Foreign Minister issued a stern caution against any attempts at starting a conflict with the country, reminding that the imponding of the British-flagged tanker 'Stena Impero' did not come as an act of “retaliation.”

Iran Press/America: Mohammad Javad Zarif made the remarks to reporters in Nicaragua, where he has traveled to as part of a tour of Latin America after a United Nations’ meeting in New York.

"Starting a conflict is easy, ending it would be impossible," he said after meeting with his Nicaraguan counterpart Denis Moncada.

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"It's important for everybody to realize, it's important for Boris Johnson to understand, that Iran does not seek confrontation," he said, referring to the front-runner to become Britain's new prime minister, Press TV reported.

"Iran wants to have normal relations based on mutual respect," he added.

Irn's top diplomat made the comments after Britain issued Iran a volley of threatening messages in response to its Friday seizure of the UK-flagged Stena Impero.

Zarif said Iran only acted against Stena Impero after it flouted maritime regulations.

"The UK ship had turned down its signal for more time than it was allowed to [and] was passing through the wrong channel, endangering the safety and security of shipping and navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, for which we are responsible," Zarif said.

Zarif also described the UK’s seizure of the supertanker as "piracy" and "violation of international law" by British and Gibraltar authorities.

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