Iran rejects US claims on Tehran targeting tanker off India
Iran's foreign ministry has strongly rejected the United States' allegations that a drone attack on a Japanese-owned chemical tanker off the coast of India was "fired from Iran." The attack occurred on Saturday, coinciding with a series of drone and missile strikes by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea in support of Palestinians in Gaza amid the conflict with Israel.
The Pentagon openly accused Tehran of being responsible for the tanker attack, a claim dismissed by Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani as "completely rejected and worthless." Kanani argued that such accusations are intended to divert public attention and cover up the U.S. government's support for Israel's actions in Gaza.
Regarding recent remarks by UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who labeled Iran as a "malign influence in the region and the world" and called for deterrent measures, Kanani criticized them as "repetitive" and "threadbare."
Iran, a financial and military supporter of Hamas, acknowledged the success of the October 7 attacks by Palestinian militants on Israel but denied direct involvement. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in over 11 weeks of Israeli air and ground attacks, with casualties exceeding 20,400, primarily among women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
Amid Yemeni rebels' recent attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea, major companies have rerouted their cargo vessels around the southern tip of Africa, incurring higher fuel costs. Iran consistently rejects U.S. and Israeli accusations of involvement in Houthi attacks, asserting that the group acts independently.
