Israel’s main allies, the United States and Britain, joined him on Sunday in accusing Iran of a fatal attack on oil tankers off Oman, despite Tehran’s denials, and Washington promised an “appropriate response. “
The U. S. and British statements came after Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said there was “evidence” linking Iran to the attack after the Islamic Republic rejected “baseless allegations” by its sworn enemy.
MT Mercer Street, controlled through prominent Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer, attacked off Oman on Thursday.
A British security guard and a member of the Romanian team were killed in what the United States, Britain and the ship’s operator, Zodiac Maritime, said was a drone strike.
Israel blamed Iran, with Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Friday, for ordering its diplomats to pressure the U. N. to act against “Iranian terrorism. “
On Sunday, Iran denied any involvement, and Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said Israel “must end such baseless accusations. “
“Iran will hesitate for a moment to protect its . . . interests and their national security,” he told reporters.
A short time later, Bennett accused Iran of “trying to do its duty for the event” in a “cowardly” manner.
“Determined, with absolute certainty, that Iran carried out the on the ship,” Bennett said.
“The intelligence evidence exists and we expect the foreign network to make transparent to the Iranian regime that has made a serious mistake,” he said.
“In any case, we know how to send a message to Iran in our own way. “
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said London believed the attack was “deliberate, targeted and a flagrant violation of foreign law through Iran,” and “British assessments” showed Iran had used “one or more drones” (unmanned aerial vehicles) to attack the tanker. . .
“Iran will have to prevent such attacks and ships should be able to sail freely in accordance with foreign law,” Raab said in a statement.
U. S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington is “confident that Iran has carried out this attack” and promised it would soon receive an “appropriate response. “
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz arrives for a cabinet assembly at the prime minister’s office in Jerusalem on August 1, 2021 Photo: POOL/ABIR SULTAN
Later on Sunday, Lapid said he had spoken to Blinken and Raab in recent days and was “pleased” that both countries “condemn those terrorist acts. “
“Israel will continue to have talks with our allies around the world and paints in combination to formulate measures to fight ongoing Iranian terrorism,” Lapid said in a statement.
Israel’s leader spoke with his British counterpart about “recent occasions in the region and the non-unusual demanding situations facing the two countries,” according to a statement.
Retired General Yossi Kuperwasser told army radio that Israel would likely follow two paths: create a global tension opposed to Iran and retain its ability to act “beyond the diplomatic sphere. “
Dryad Global maritime analysts said thursday’s 5th attack opposed a shipment connected to Israel since February.
The tanker was travelling from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to Fujairah in the UNITED ARAB EMIRATES without any shipping on board when it collided, Zodiac Maritime said.
Several attacks have been reported on Iranian ships that Tehran has connected to Israel.
In March, Iran said it is “considering all options” after an attack on a shipment sent to the Mediterranean that blamed Israel.
And in April, Tehran said its shipment, Saviz, had been hit by an “explosion” in the Red Sea, after media reported that Israel had targeted the shipment.
The New York Times reported at the time that it was an Israeli “retaliatory” attack after “Iran’s past moves on Israeli ships. “
In a March report that included U. S. and Middle Eastern officials, the Wall Street Journal said Israel had attacked at least a dozen Syria-bound ships, most of which were carrying Iranian oil, since the 2019 deadline.
Iran has accused Israel of sabotaging its nuclear sites and killing several of its scientists.
Tehran and world powers are engaged in talks in Vienna with the goal of getting Washington back to a 2015 nuclear deal and lifting sanctions, and Iran returning to compliance with nuclear commitments it has waived in retaliation for sanctions.
The deal was strained when, in 2018, former President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States and reimbursed sanctions.