Britain, Romania and Liberia complain to the Security Council against “Iranian attack on oil tanker”

Britain, Romania and Liberia have written a letter to the Security Council calling for action in relation to the attack on the Mercer Strait tanker. Israel is to provide “evidence” of the attack on the tanker to the Security Council ambassadors.

Britain, Romania and Liberia have filed a complaint against the Islamic Republic of Iran with the United Nations Security Council. In a letter to the Security Council on Tuesday, the three countries said it was “highly likely” that Iran used one or more drones to carry out the deadly attack on the Mercer Strait oil tanker last Thursday off the coast of the Sea of ​​Oman.

Reuters, which has seen the letter from the three countries to the Security Council, reported that the countries wrote in the letter that the attack on the Mercer Strait tanker endangered the safety of international shipping and was a clear violation of international law. All three countries called for the act to be condemned by the international community.

Two crew members, a British citizen and a Romanian citizen, were killed in the attack on the Mercer Street tanker, which was reportedly carried out by two drones.

The main owner of the tanker is Japan, but the ship was operated by the Israeli company Zodiac and was sailing under the Liberian flag.

Iran has denied any involvement in the attack on the tanker.

Diplomats said Britain was expected to raise the issue of the attack on the Mercer Strait tanker at a closed-door meeting of the Security Council in the coming days.

Coincidentally, the council is scheduled to hold a meeting on maritime security on Monday, August 9, chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council.

In their letter to the Security Council, Britain, Liberia and Romania stressed that the three countries, together with regional and international partners, are conducting a thorough investigation into the attack on the tanker and will soon provide the Security Council with the latest information.

Israel has also previously written separately to the UN Security Council, calling for UN condemnation of Iran. Israel has said it will continue to take all necessary measures to protect its citizens.

"Iran's relentless and hostile activities endanger the region and beyond, and we expect the Security Council to take concrete and decisive action to contain these growing threats," said Gilad Erdan, Israel's ambassador to the United States and the United Nations.

The Times of Israel newspaper reported that Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz are scheduled to meet with the ambassadors of Security Council member states to Israel on Wednesday, August 4, and provide them with evidence of "Iranian involvement" in the attack on the Mercer Strait tanker.

The US and Britain previously announced on Sunday, August 1, that they would work with their allies to "respond to this attack."

Military alliance NATO and the European Union have joined the growing international condemnation of Iran's alleged attack on an Israeli ship in the Arabian Sea, calling on Iran to abide by its international obligations.

Simultaneously with these developments, Reuters news agency reported, citing security sources, that "Iranian-backed forces" may have "seized" an oil tanker off the coast of the UAE.

According to the report, citing two maritime security sources, the Panamanian-flagged ship "Asphalt Princess" carrying bitumen and asphalt was hijacked by Iranian-affiliated militias in the Arabian Sea.

Saeed Khatibzadeh, spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, denied this news in an interview with Tasnim News Agency.

Source: DW