Tehran on Monday 2 August warned that it would respond to any "
adventurism
" if it is targeted, after Washington, London and Israel accused it of being behind a deadly attack on an oil tanker in the Arabian Sea, what Iran has denied.
"
The Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to protect its security and national interests,
" Iranian Foreign Affairs spokesman Said Khatibzadeh said in a statement.
He pledged that his country "
would respond immediately and decisively to any possible adventurism
."
Read also: Escalation between Israel and Iran in the Arabian Sea
On Thursday, the oil tanker Mercer Street, run by the company of an Israeli billionaire, was the target of a drone attack in the Arabian Sea, according to the US military which has ships in the area.
The attack, which has not been claimed, left two dead: a Briton employed by the security company Ambrey, and a Romanian crew member, according to the shipowner Zodiac Maritime, owned by the Israeli Eyal Ofer.
Israel immediately pointed the finger at Iran, its Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Friday accusing the Islamic Republic of being "
an exporter of terrorism, destruction and instability which hurts everyone
".
London and Washington accuse Tehran
Tehran has denied any involvement: "
the Zionist regime (Israel, Editor's note) must stop (launching) such unfounded accusations
," Said Khatibzadeh said on Sunday. However, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett rejected these statements saying: "
I can say with absolute certainty that Iran carried out this attack on the ship (...) There is evidence of that
". London and Washington have also blamed Tehran. Britain believes this "
deliberate
"
action
was "
led by Iran,
" British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab said on Sunday. And the United States "
is certain that Iran carried out the attack
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday.
Washington "
is consulting with governments in the region and beyond for an appropriate and imminent response
," he warned.
It is the latest manifestation of the feud between Iran and Israel.
Read also: Two dead in the attack on an oil tanker off Oman, Israel accuses Iran
In March, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing US and Middle Eastern officials, whom Israel had targeted since late 2019, mainly with underwater mines, at least a dozen ships en route to Syria carrying , in most cases, Iranian oil. "
If they have evidence to support their unfounded claims, they should provide it,
" Khatibzadeh said on Monday, accusing London and Washington of remaining "
silent
" about "
terrorist attacks
" targeting "
ships.
Iranian
trade
”in the Red Sea and international waters.
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