Israel accuses Iran of attacking an oil tanker | The governments of the United States and the United Kingdom support the Israeli position

Israel assured this Sunday to have “evidence” on the involvement of Iran in the attack on an oil tanker managed by an Israeli billionaire off the coast of Oman. The incident resulted in the deaths of a British security guard and a Romanian crew member. The Israeli position was joined by the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom, accusing Iran of the “deliberate and targeted” attack on the ship “Mercer Street”. The US military, which has several ships deployed in the area, says it was a drone attack. Tehran dismisses “unfounded” accusations and warned that “who sows the wind, gathers the storms”.

“I just heard that Iran is cowardly trying to shirk its responsibility on this issue. But I can say with absolute certainty that Iran carried out this attack on the ship. There is proof“, said the Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett at a meeting of his government. “We hope that the international community will make it clear to the Iranian regime that it is making a serious mistake. In any case, we know how to send a message to Iran in our own wayBennett added what sounded like a clear threat of retaliation.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel, Yair Lapid, had spoken Sunday at dawn with the American Secretary of State, Antoine Blink, calling for joint action at the UN against Tehran. International support was immediate.

“After analyzing the information we have, we are convinced that Iran carried out this attack“Blinken said in a statement. We are working with our partners to consider our next steps and are consulting with governments in the region and outside on an appropriate response,” added the secretary of state.

In the same vein, the British Foreign Secretary, Dominique raab, denounced that the “deliberate and selective” attack was “led by Iran” and demanded that the Iranian authorities “immediately put an end to actions which endanger regional and international peace and security”..

However the Iranian government has denied any involvement in the attack. “Zionist regime must stop with these baseless accusations”, said the spokesman for Iranian diplomacy, Said Khatibzadeh, during a press conference in Tehran. “Israel must know that blaming others will not solve its problems. Who sows the wind, gathers the stormsKhatibzadeh replied harshly.

The Mercer Street ship was sailing without cargo from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to Fujaira, a coastal city in the United Arab Emirates. The Japanese-flagged tanker operated by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Maritime company, was attacked Thursday in the northern Indian Ocean, in an operation that killed two crew members. For the US military, it was a drone attack that opened a hole in the top of the tanker’s deck, where the captain and crew are in command of the ship. The investigation of the incident is ongoing.

The Arabian Sea, where the attack took place, is located between Iran and Oman. There is the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which much of the world’s oil passes. and where a US-led coalition is present. Two ships of the Israeli operator Ray Shipping have already suffered attacks this year attributed to Iran, while Tehran accuses Israel of being behind attacks against Iranian commercial vessels in the Red Sea or the Mediterranean.