The United States’ decision to include Israel in a naval coalition in the Persian Gulf is a “very stupid move diplomatically” as it will only provoke Iran and stumble the whole region into an all-out war, says a New York-based author and commentator.

Axar.az reports citing Presstv that The United States has been trying to persuade its allies into an international coalition with the declared aim of providing “security” for merchant shipping in the Strait of Hormuz — through which about a fifth of all oil consumed globally pass —and other strategic Middle Eastern shipping lanes.

Israel announced earlier in the week that it would join what the US calls an effort to boost security of navigation in the Persian Gulf.

Before that, the US had officially asked Germany to participate — alongside Britain and France — in the coalition, a request that was declined by German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. The UK, however, accepted to join the US-led coalition.