Iran on Monday rejected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s allegations that the Islamic republic was behind an attack on an oil tanker belonging to Israel in the Arabian Sea.
“We strongly reject the Zionist regime’s accusations against Iran regarding the attack on the Israeli tanker,” said Nasser Kanani, a spokesman for Tehran’s foreign ministry, during a weekly news conference, according to Reuters.
“We have been very proactive in upholding the security and freedom of navigation in international waters and will continue to do so,” he added.
Netanyahu on Sunday accused Iran of being behind the attack.
“On the Iranian front, our efforts continue as Iran’s acts of aggression continue,” Netanyahu said at the start of his weekly cabinet meeting.
“Last week, Iran again attacked an oil tanker in the Persian Gulf [region] and struck at international freedom of navigation,” he said.
The February 10 attack targeted the Liberian-flagged product tanker Campo Square, causing minor damage and no injuries. Shipping databases linked the tanker to Zodiac Maritime, which is controlled by Israeli shipping magnate Eyal Ofer.
This is not the first instance where Israeli tankers have been targeted while en route to the Far East. In November, “The Pacific Zircon,” another Israeli tanker flying the Liberian flag, was hit by a projectile about 150 miles off the coast of Oman. There were no reports of casualties or cargo leakage.
Screenshot of video showing Campo Square oil tanker. (YouTube screenshot; used in accordance with section 27A of the Copyright Act)
A year earlier, in July 2021, two crew members, British and Romanian nationals, were killed when another tanker belonging to Ofer, the Liberian-flagged Mercer Street, capsized. was attacked By drone off the coast of Oman.
The company then described the attack as a “suspected piracy incident”.
