Yahoo Finance Iranian ambassador summoned over tanker drone strike that killed Briton
Iran’s ambassador to the UK has been summoned to the Foreign Office following an attack on an oil tanker in which a Briton was killed.
Mohsen Baharvand was summoned to the foreign office by the minister for the Middle East James Cleverly on Monday.
The UK has said it is highly likely that Iran was behind the drone strike on the MV Mercer Street off the coast of Oman.
Mr Cleverly told Iranian diplomat Mohsen Baharvand that Tehran must “immediately cease actions that risk international peace and security”.
The strike on the vessel last Thursday night was the first known fatal attack after years of assaults on commercial shipping in the region linked to tensions between Israel and Iran.
British maritime security firm Ambrey said the attack, which saw a hole blasted through the vessel’s bridge, killed one of its employees on board.
UK believes the attack on MV MERCER STREET was carried out by Iran and was deliberate, targeted and unlawful. The UK calls on Iran to immediately cease actions that risk regional & international peace & security. Full statement⬇️https://t.co/2hZAfoTqBZ
— Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) August 1, 2021
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “The Iranian ambassador to the UK, Mohsen Baharvand, was summoned today to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office by the minister for the Middle East, James Cleverly, in response to the unlawful attack committed on MV Mercer Street on 29 July.
“Minister Cleverly reiterated that Iran must immediately cease actions that risk international peace and security, and reinforced that vessels must be allowed to navigate freely in accordance with international law.”
Update on the situation involving the M/T Mercer Street: pic.twitter.com/sRuuyvwLA8
— Zodiac Maritime (@Zodiac_Maritime) July 30, 2021
The Foreign Office said the drone assault followed similar attacks on three other Israeli-linked ships in the region since February.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has promised to work with allies on a “concerted response” to Iran following the attack, which also killed a Romanian.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he is confident that Iran carried out the attack using explosive drones – “a lethal capability it is increasingly employing throughout the region”.
Iran’s FM spokesman denies accusations by the US/UK/Israel of responsibility for involvement in attack on an oil tanker in Gulf of Oman as baseless and provocative. "Such accusations are meant by Israel to divert attention from facts".
pic.twitter.com/FQQnlItAz7— Hosseini Matin (@smhmatin) August 1, 2021
Tehran has denied responsibility, accusing Israel of making baseless accusations against Iran.
The Mercer Street is managed by London-based Zodiac Maritime, part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group.
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