Iran blamed for drone strike
U.S., Britain, Israel point fingers; Tehran denies responsibility
ISTANBUL — The United States, Britain and Israel on Sunday all accused Iran of carrying out a drone attack last week on an oil tanker in the Arabian Sea that killed two people on board, raising fears of an escalating maritime war in the Middle East, as Tehran denied responsibility for the strike.
American and Israeli officials had previously said Thursday’s attack on the Liberian-flagged Mercer Street bore the hallmarks of an operation by Iran, which has been accused of deploying attack drones in the past. The Mercer Street is managed by Zodiac Maritime, a London-based company owned by an Israeli billionaire. Those killed included a British national and a Romanian citizen, the company said.
Hostilities over the past two years between Israel and Iran have frequently played out at sea, in tit-fortat attacks by both countries on oil tankers, private commercial vessels or warships — a conflict often referred to as part of a “shadow war” that feels increasingly overt. The strike on the Mercer, off the coast of Oman, marked a significant escalation and was the first time fatalities had resulted from one of the recent attacks.
On Sunday, Saeed Khatibzadeh, a spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, said he “condemned” allegations linking Tehran to the attack and called on Israel to “stop spreading accusations,” according to the semiofficial Iranian Students’ News Agency.
Later Sunday, in apparently coordinated statements, the United States, Britain and Israel expressed certainty Iran was responsible, without immediately providing evidence.
“Upon review of the available information, we are confident that Iran conducted this attack, which killed two innocent people, using one-way explosive UAV’s, a lethal capability it is increasingly employing throughout the region,”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement, referring to unmanned aerial vehicles.
“We are working with our partners to consider our next steps and consulting with governments inside the region and beyond on an appropriate response, which will be forthcoming,” he added.
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab called the attack “deliberate, targeted, and a clear violation of international law by Iran” and said one or more drones were used, according to a British government statement.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, speaking at a cabinet meeting, also accused Iran of responsibility.
“I have now heard that Iran, in a cowardly manner, is trying to evade its responsibility for the incident and are denying it. So, I’m stating here, absolutely, that Iran is the one that carried out the attack against the ship,” he said. The strike aimed to hit an Israeli target, Mr. Bennett said, adding “intelligence evidence exists” tying Iran to the attack, though he did not present any.
In their comments Sunday, both Mr. Khatibzadeh and Mr. Bennett hinted at further retaliatory action.
“This regime has brought insecurity, terror and fear wherever it has gone,” Mr. Khatibzadeh said, referring to Israel. “Whoever sows the wind reaps the storm.”
Mr. Bennett said Israel expected the international community to “make it clear to the Iranian regime that they have made a grave mistake.”
“We, in any case, know how to convey the message to Iran in our own ways,” he added.
The hostilities have raised fears about the safety of passage in the waterways around the Middle East and cast a shadow over ongoing negotiations between Iran and world powers to revive a 2015 nuclear deal from which the United States, under President Donald Trump, withdrew three years ago. Israel opposes the deal.
The negotiations began in April but have recently stalled, with Iran indicating it will not return to the talks until after a new government takes office next week. U.S. and Iranian officials have expressed frustration with the pace of the talks.
In a statement Saturday, U.S. Central Command said American naval forces had responded to the vessel after receiving an emergency distress call and initial indications “clearly point to a UAV-style attack.”
After the strike, the Mercer Street was escorted by the USS Ronald Reagan, an aircraft carrier, and the USS Mitscher, a guided missile destroyer. Naval explosive experts were aboard “to ensure there is no additional danger to the crew,” the statement said.