Israel PM Naftali Bennett blames Iran for tanker attack

New Delhi: Israel's prime minister on Sunday directly blamed Iran for a drone attack on an oil tanker off the Oman coast. However, Iran has denied the attack, denying the allegations. Two crew members were killed in this attack.

Tehran denies the allegations:

The remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh came after Thursday night's attack on the oil tanker Mercer Street. This is the first fatality in the region in a few years after the cessation of attacks on commercial ships. It is being linked to tensions with Iran over the nuclear deal.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, Iran and its militia allies have used such so-called suicide drones for attacks in the past. Khatibzadeh on Sunday called the allegations baseless. He said such allegations are not new. Those people who have allowed the Israeli regime to gain a foothold in the region are responsible for this attack.

Probe of attack:

This is not new, America's anti-Iran lobby uses any opportunity to level allegations against the Islamic Republic of Iran. In Jerusalem, Bennett has directly blamed Iran for the attack in a weekly cabinet meeting.

The US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and the guided missile destroyer USS Mitscher escorted Mercer Street to a safe harbor. The US Navy gave this information on Saturday. It said Navy experts believed the drone struck the ship.

A US official said on condition of anonymity that the explosion caused by the drone strike left a large hole in the top of the tanker. He said the investigation into the attack was underway.

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