Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said on Saturday that Iran could be responsible for the explosion that hit an Israeli ship in the Gulf of Oman.
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The
MV Helios Ray
, an Israeli vessel carrying vehicles, was on the route between Dammam, a port city in eastern Saudi Arabia, and Singapore, at the time of the explosion Thursday in northwest Oman, according to Dryad. Global, a company specializing in maritime security.
"
The location of the boat, relatively close to Iran at the time, may suggest that it is the Iranians but it is something that needs to continue to be verified,
" said Benny Gantz, when asked about the Israeli public channel Kan.
"
It's a first estimate that takes into account the proximity (with Iranian territory, editor's note) and the context, that's what I think
."
"
Threat
"
Despite its denials, Iran is accused by Israel, its sworn enemy, of seeking to acquire atomic weapons.
And the Hebrew state called
Iran's decision this week to restrict inspections of its nuclear program by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for failing to obtain the lifting of sanctions as a
"
threat
". American.
Amid heightened tensions between Israel and the Islamic Republic, Dryad Global also suggested that Iran could be responsible for the explosion.
"
While the details of the incident remain unclear, there is a realistic possibility that the event was the result of (...) Iranian military activity
," the company said.
In addition, "
Iran increasingly fears the improvement of relations between Israel and the Gulf States
," added Dryad Global, referring to recent normalization agreements between the Hebrew state and countries like the United Arab Emirates. or Bahrain.
Read also: Tehran feels besieged by Israel's new friends in the Gulf
The UK Maritime Trade Operations Office informed him of the explosion, saying "
investigations are underway
".
The explosion made "
two holes about a meter and a half in diameter,
" the ship's owner, Israeli businessman Rami Ungar, told Kan.
He specified that no casualties were to be deplored among the crew and that the engine had not been damaged.
It is "
not yet clear
" whether the explosion "
was caused by missile fire or mines attached to the boat,
" he added.
The boat was to be moored this Saturday in an Emirati port, according to its owner.
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