Israel accuses Iran of attacking tanker after Tehran denies

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By Arsalan Shahla on 1/8/2021

(Bloomberg) – The Israeli prime minister said Iran was unequivocally to blame for a deadly attack on an Israel-linked tanker off Oman on Thursday, just after Tehran denied responsibility.

I want to say unequivocally that Iran is the one who attacked the ship, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Sunday, in response to Iran’s denial. We expect the international community to clarify to the Iranian regime that it made a terrible mistake. We have our means to get the message across to Iran.

US and Israeli officials said Iran was to blame for the attack, which killed two crew members – a Romanian and a British – aboard Mercer Street. These were the first deaths in years in the volatile shipping corridor. US Navy experts believe the tanker was hit by a drone.

Israel should stop making such accusations against Iran, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said at a press briefing in Tehran on Sunday. This is not the first time that Israel has made such accusations.

Iran and Israel have exchanged several charges of maritime attacks in recent months. They occurred amid efforts by world powers to reinstate a 2015 pact that limited Tehran’s nuclear activities in return for easing US sanctions. Israel is against lifting the sanctions or resuming the agreement.

Mercer Street

The 600-foot (183-meter) tanker was sailing empty of cargo from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, the vessel’s manager, London-based Zodiac Maritime Ltd., said.

Zodiac is controlled by real estate and shipping mogul Eyal Ofer and operates the Japanese carrier. Ofer is among the richest people in Israel, with a net worth of $ 11.3 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

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