‘One or More Governments’ behind Attack on Iran Oil Tanker: Zarif

“According to the information received, the attack on the Iranian tanker has been carried out by one or more governments. Of course, investigations are underway, and as long as we have not reached definitive conclusions, we will not accuse any government,” Zarif said on Tuesday.

The attack on the Iranian oil tanker was a complex, government-sponsored action, the foreign minister added.

An Iranian lawmaker also said that security measures to investigate the attack on the Iranian tanker have been carried out by experts at the Supreme National Security Council and the details are submitted to the foreign ministry to be delivered to the United Nations.

Abolfazl Hassanbeigi, a member of the Iranian parliament’s national security and foreign policy commission, added the footage that the cameras mounted on the oil tanker have taken show the attack has been carried out by the US, the Zionist regime and Al Saud.

“Saudi Arabia and the US are trying to blame it on ISIS or Taliban, but evidence from the Iranian tanker indicates that it was not possible for the ISIS and terrorist groups to organise the attack because they are not present in the Red Sea.”

“There are abundant documents and evidence of interference of certain governments in the attack against the Iranian oil tanker and they will be presented to the UN and UN Security Council and the countries which played a role in the terrorist attack should pay the price for their deeds,” he said.

“If possibly the ISIS and Taliban terrorist groups would be involved in the operation, everybody knows they were created by Saudi Arabia, the United States and the Zionist regime, and they are the slaves of these countries,” he underlined.

“The whole world knows that Saudi Arabia’s money and planning of Mossad and the CIA created terrorist groups in the West Asian region.”

On Wednesday, Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, also warned there would be a “harsh response” to whoever was behind the attacks.

The tanker Sabiti owned by the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) was hit in Red Sea waters off Saudi Arabia by two missiles on Friday, leading to a leak which was quickly contained.

Mohammad Rastad, head of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization, says the vessel is carrying 140,000 tonnes of crude oil which is undamaged, thanks to timely measures to contain the leak.

According to the official, the tanker is currently sailing in Bab al-Mandeb strait and will soon reach the Gulf of Aden. It is bound for Bandar Abbas and estimated to reach the Iranian port in the next nine days, where necessary repair on the ship will begin, he said.