United States (US) National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan on Wednesday blamed Iran for a drone strike on an Israel-linked tanker off the coast of Oman.
Saying that Washington condemns in the “strongest possible terms” the attack on the Liberian-flagged MV Pacific Zircon oil tanker, Sullivan noted that the US is confident that Iran is behind the attack.
“There is no justification for this attack, which is the latest in a pattern of such actions and broader destabilising activities,” he said, referring to Iran’s military support to Russia.
“This action further threatens freedom of navigation through this crucial waterway, international shipping and commerce, and the lives of those on the vessels involved,” he asserted. He also reiterated the US commitment to “supporting the free flow of commerce through the Middle East’s vital waterways.”
Sullivan emphasised that the US will work with allies to hold Iran accountable and “respond through appropriate means.”
UKMTO ADVISORY 001/NOV/2022
— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) November 16, 2022
INCIDENT
UKMTO are aware of reports of an incident in the Gulf of Oman/Arabian Sea, investigations are ongoing. Vessel and crew are safe.https://t.co/Q7KzAa6dYq#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/CHGorVF1rP
The attack occurred on 15 November in the Gulf of Oman, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on Wednesday. CENTCOM noted that the attack, which used Iranian drones, had damaged the vessel but there were no casualties.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that the drone created a hole in the tanker. It, too, confirmed the use of a Shahed-136 suicide drone.
“This unmanned aerial vehicle attack against a civilian vessel in this critical maritime strait demonstrates, once again, the destabilising nature of Iranian malign activity in the region,” said CENTCOM commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla.
MV Pacific Zircon is operated by Singapore-based company Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS), which is owned by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer. EPS CEO Cyril Ducau told WSJ that the crew is safe and the attack only caused “minor damage” to the vessel.
A statement released by EPS on Wednesday noted that the company is investigating the incident and “in communication with the vessel.” It said “there were no reports of injuries or pollution” and “all crew are safe and accounted for.” According to EPS, “there is some minor damage to the vessel’s hull but no spillage of cargo or water ingress.”
The vessel was the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Pacific Zircon that's ultimately owned by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer
— Bloomberg (@business) November 16, 2022
The ship was last seen signaling its position in the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday eveninghttps://t.co/jxVc39bpmO pic.twitter.com/VPWYaERbIK
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani rejected US claims and said Iran did not attack MV Pacific Zircon.
Iran’s Nour News reported that Israel was responsible for the attack and called it a “Hebrew-Arab axis” attempt to create a “charged atmosphere” in the region ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
The attack on MV Pacific Zircon is the latest flare-up in the decades-long shadow war between Iran and Israel. The attack occurred just days after an Iraqi convoy was bombed in eastern Syria near the Iraqi border killing Iranian and Iraqi citizens. Although it is not clear who was behind the strike, it is widely believed that Israel is behind the attack as the latter has launched numerous airstrikes against Iranian military targets in Syria.
Furthermore, on Tuesday, several Iranian agents were arrested in Tbilisi, Georgia, for attempting to kill an Israeli businessman. Iran has increased threats against Israeli citizens following the assassinations of several Iranian nuclear scientists and military officials, which Iran blames on Israel.
Iran and Israel have been engaged in a covert war since the 2000s, mainly over Iran’s nuclear programme, which Israel sees as a threat to its existence. The fighting has involved tit-for-tat attacks through land, sea, and air, cyber-attacks, proxy warfare, drone strikes, and even the use of Artificial Intelligence.