The United States said an Iranian drone was probably responsible for an attack on an oil tanker linked to an Israeli billionaire on Tuesday night.
“There is no justification for this attack, which is the latest in a pattern of such actions and broader destabilising activities,” National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement Wednesday.
He said Iran is increasingly using drones “directly and via its proxies throughout the Middle East and proliferating to Russia for use in Ukraine.”
On Tuesday, Eastern Pacific Shipping said its ship, MV Pacific Zircon was hit by a projectile 241 kilometres from the Omani coast at about 7.30 p.m. local time.
“There are no reports of injuries or pollution. All crew are safe and accounted for. There is some minor damage to the vessel’s hull but no spillage of cargo or water ingress,” the shipping company, which is owned by Israeli businessman Idan Ofer, said.
Israeli officials also believe Iran was behind the attack.
There was a spate of attacks on ships in the Gulf of Oman in 2021. Many were blamed on Iran and came amid rising tension between Tehran and the US and Israel.
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