Iran’s foreign ministry has strongly rejected allegations by the United States regarding a recent drone attack on a Japanese-owned chemical tanker off the coast of India, labelling the claims as baseless and “worthless.”
The incident, which occurred on Saturday amid escalating tensions in the region, was initially linked to Iran by the Pentagon. In response, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani firmly denied these accusations, suggesting that such claims are designed to deflect attention from the US’s support of Israel’s actions in Gaza. He further criticized the UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron’s recent statements about Iran as “repetitive” and “threadbare.”
Background of Regional Tensions
The ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, which has witnessed over 11 weeks of Israeli military actions resulting in significant casualties, adds complexity to the regional situation. While Iran, a known supporter of Hamas, has commended the October 7 attacks as successful, it has denied any direct involvement in the drone and missile attacks by Yemen’s Huthi rebels in the Red Sea.
Read: Iranian Drone Strikes Chemical Tanker ‘CHEM PLUTO’ in Indian Ocean
These attacks have led to major shipping firms rerouting their cargo vessels, increasing travel distances and fuel costs. Iran maintains that the Huthi group operates independently, despite US and Israeli assertions of Tehran’s involvement.
