China News Service, August 3, reported that the tanker "Mercer Street" managed by an Israeli company was attacked by drones in the waters off Oman on July 29, killing two crew members including British citizens.

Britain, the United States and Israel all accused Iran of carrying out the attack, and Iran denied participating in the attack.

The British Foreign Ministry has summoned the Iranian ambassador, and the Iranian Foreign Ministry has also summoned the British Minister in Iran on the 2nd to protest against the British allegations.

British citizen killed in tanker attack

British Foreign Ministry summons Iranian ambassador

　　The tanker attack resulted in the deaths of a British citizen and a Romanian citizen. British Foreign Secretary Raab said on the 1st that it was Iran that “deliberately and targeted” the drone attack.

　　The British Foreign Office later stated that the Iranian ambassador had been summoned to the British Foreign Office because of the alleged attack by Tehran on the "Mercer Street" tanker.

　　The British Foreign Office pointed out that the Iranian ambassador Bahawand was called by the Deputy Secretary of State for Middle East and North Africa, James Cleverly.

Cleverly reiterated to Bahavand that Tehran "should immediately cease actions that threaten international peace and security" and confirmed that ships should be allowed to pass freely in accordance with international law.

　　Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Bennett claimed that Iran was the “man behind the scenes” of the attack on ships off the coast of Oman.

　　U.S. Secretary of State Blincoln also stated that the U.S. believes that Iran is the "man behind the scenes" of the recent attack on the oil tanker "Mercer Street" based on current information.

　　The Central Command of the United States Armed Forces (CENTCOM) believes that, based on preliminary data, the attack on the ship was carried out using drones.

Denied involvement in the attack

Iran summons British diplomats to protest

　　On the 2nd, Iran once again countered the accusations made by the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Khatibzad emphasized on the 2nd that the United Kingdom and the United States "coordinated and unanimously" accuse Iran of involvement in the tanker attack. This accusation is "baseless".

Iran will immediately respond to any threats to its security.

　　The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied that Iran was involved in the tanker attack on the 1st.

　　The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the 2nd that the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the British Minister in Iran on the same day to formally protest against the British side's "baseless allegations of the Israeli tanker attack."

　　The statement said that the Director of the Western European Department of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reminded the British Minister in Iran that Iran strongly condemns similar unfounded claims made by the British.

　　The statement also said that the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested the British side’s unfounded claims about the Israeli tanker attack, and reminded that this is not the first time that the British side has issued a similarly unfounded position, and the country’s previous similar claims have not been confirmed.

　　In addition, Zamir Kabulov, Director of the Second Asian Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that there is absolutely no reason to believe that Iran might be involved in the attack on the "Mercer Street" tanker, and the Western countries accusing Tehran did not provide evidence.

　　In the middle of the night of July 29, the oil tanker "Mercer Street" was attacked in the waters off Oman, killing a British and a Romanian.

It is reported that the ship is a Japanese oil tanker flying the Liberian flag, managed by the Israeli company Zodiac Maritime.