Britain said on Sunday it believed Iran launched an attack on an Israeli-operated petroleum products tanker off the coast of Oman on July 29 that killed a Briton and a Romanian, adding that it was working with partners on a "coordinated response", while Iran denied involvement in the attack. carrier.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said, "The United Kingdom condemns the unlawful and brutal attack on a merchant ship off the coast of Oman, which led to the killing of a Briton and a Romanian."

"We believe that this attack was premeditated and targeted and represents a clear violation by Iran of international law," he added.

He said British assessments concluded that it was "highly likely" that Iran attacked the tanker using one or more drones.

He added that "the UK is working with our international partners on a coordinated response to this unacceptable attack" and that Iran should end such attacks and allow ships to sail freely in accordance with international law.

Iranian exile

However, Iran denied its involvement in the attack on an oil tanker owned by an Israeli company off the coast of Oman.


Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh described - in a press conference today, Sunday - the accusations leveled at Iran over targeting the Israeli ship Mercer Street as "baseless and baseless."

The Iranian spokesman said that it is not the first time that Tel Aviv has leveled accusations against Tehran, adding that Israel's presence in any region leads to destabilization of security and stability, terrorism and violence there, as he put it.

Khatibzadeh added, "Such accusations are intended by Israel to divert attention from the facts and are baseless."

According to the same spokesman, "These blame games are not new. Those responsible for this (attack) are the ones who allowed the Israeli regime to set foot in this area."

The attack resulted in the killing of two crew members (British and Romanian) of the ship operated by the Israeli company Zodiac Maritime, which was flying the Liberian flag.

The owner company said it appeared to be a matter of piracy, while a source at the Maritime Security Center in Oman said that the attack took place outside Omani territorial waters.

Israeli insistence

On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett - at the start of his government's weekly session on Sunday - blamed Iran for the attack on the oil-derivatives tanker, and added that he expected the international system "to make clear to the Iranian regime the extent of the grave mistake it committed."

Bennett stressed that Israel will explain to Iran in its own way the enormity of the step it took in attacking the tanker, as he put it.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said the incident deserved a stern response, adding in a tweet that "Iran is not only an Israeli problem, it is a source of terrorism, destruction and instability that harms everyone... We must not remain silent in the face of Iranian terrorism, which also undermines freedom of navigation."


Washington is participating in the investigation

On the other hand, the US State Department said - yesterday, Saturday - that Washington agreed to participate in an investigation into the attack on the oil tanker, and the ministry’s spokesman, Ned Price, explained that Foreign Minister Anthony Blinken had a phone call with his Israeli counterpart, and they agreed “to work with the United Kingdom.” Romania and other international partners to investigate the facts, provide support, and consider appropriate next stages."

The US Navy's Fifth Fleet had said that its explosives experts had reached preliminary findings that the attack on Mercer Street, owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofir, was carried out by a drone, and the ship was on its way from Tanzania to the UAE.

Reuters reported that US and European sources familiar with intelligence reports said that Iran was the main suspect in the incident, but a US Defense Department official stressed that Washington was looking for conclusive evidence.

No party claimed the attack, but the London-based company, Dryad Global, which specializes in maritime security, spoke of "new reprisals in the war that is taking place in secret between the two hostile powers," referring to Iran and Israel.

The Arabian Sea - where the tanker attack occurred - is located between Iran and the Sultanate of Oman at the exit of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which a large part of the world's oil passes and where a US-led coalition operates.

Iran and Israel have accused each other of attacking each other's ships in recent months, as tensions have risen in the Gulf region since the United States re-imposed sanctions on Iran in 2018 after former US President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal signed between Iran and major powers in 2015.