Gulf of Oman tanker attacks: Iran calls US accusation ‘unfounded’

Media captionIranian TV footage shows a burning tanker

Iran says it “categorically rejects” US claims that it is behind attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had blamed Iran for the “unprovoked attacks” on Thursday.

He added that the US had made its assessment based on intelligence about the type of weapons used.

But Iran dismissed the claim as “unfounded”. A senior Iranian official had earlier told the BBC that “Iran has no connection” with the explosions.

Dozens of crew members were rescued after the blasts on the Japanese-owned Kokuka Courageous and the Front Altair, owned by a Norwegian company.

Both Iran and the US said they evacuated the crew.

In a statement released on Friday, the Iranian mission to the United Nations said: “Iran categorically rejects the US unfounded claim with regard to 13 June oil tanker incidents, and condemns it in the strongest possible terms.”

The blasts in one of the world’s busiest oil routes comes a month after four oil tankers were attacked off the United Arab Emirates.

No group or country has admitted the incident in May, which also caused no casualties.

The US at the time blamed Iran – but Tehran denied the accusations.

Oil prices jumped as much as 4% after Thursday’s incident.

The Gulf of Oman lies at one end of the strategic Strait of Hormuz – a vital shipping lane through which hundreds of millions of dollars of oil pass.

BIMCO, the world’s largest international shipping association, said the tension in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf “is now as high as it gets without being an actual armed conflict”.

The association also urged shipowners to “exercise extreme caution” in the region.

What did Mike Pompeo say?

“It is the assessment of the United States that the Islamic Republic of Iran is responsible for the attacks,” the US secretary of state said at a news conference in Washington.

Media captionMike Pompeo: “Unprovoked attacks a clear threat to peace and security”

“This assessment is based on intelligence, the weapons used, the level of expertise needed to execute the operation, recent similar Iranian attacks on shipping, and the fact that no proxy group operating in the area has the resources and proficiency to act with such a high degree of sophistication.”

Mr Pompeo presented no evidence.

“This is only the latest in the series of attacks instigated by the Islamic Republic of Iran and its surrogates against American and allied interests.

“Taken as a whole, these unprovoked attacks present a clear threat to international peace and security, a blatant assault on the freedom of navigation, and an unacceptable campaign of escalating tension by Iran,” Mr Pompeo said.

A UK government source said it agreed with the US assessment, according to BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale.

What do we know about the explosions?

The Norwegian Maritime Authority said earlier on Thursday that the Front Altair had been “attacked”, and that there were three blasts on board.

Wu I-fang, a spokesman for Taiwan’s CPC Corp oil refiner, which chartered the Front Altair, said it was carrying 75,000 tonnes of naphtha and was “suspected of being hit by a torpedo”, although this has not been confirmed.

Other unverified reports suggested a mine attack.

The ship’s owner, Frontline, said the vessel was on fire – but denied reports in Iranian media that it had sunk.

The operator of the Kokuka Courageous, BSM Ship Management, said its crew abandoned ship and were rescued by a passing vessel.

Iran’s Irib state television broadcast what is said was footage of the rescued crew members sitting on a sofa and chatting at the Iranian port of Jask.

The video was published by Iran’s Isna news agency with the caption that read: “Images of rescued members of the damaged ship in the Oman sea.”

Image copyright
Frederick A Terry/Artjom Lofitski

Image caption

The 21 crew on the Kokuka Courageous (L) and 23 on the Front Altair have been rescued

Why are US-Iran tensions so high?

In 2018, the US pulled out of the landmark nuclear deal reached in 2015 that was aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear activities.

The move was strongly criticised by a number of countries, including America’s closest allies.

In May, President Donald Trump tightened US sanctions on Iran – mainly targeting its oil sector.

Iran then announced it was suspending some commitments under the nuclear deal.

In recent months the US has strengthened its forces in the Gulf – saying there was a danger of Iranian attacks.

Media captionWhy does the Strait of Hormuz matter?

It has sent an aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bombers to the region.

In response, Iran has accused the US of aggressive behaviour.

Those tensions rose markedly after the 12 May limpet mine attacks in the UAE.

Media captionThe BBC was invited on board the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea

The UAE blamed an unnamed “state actor”.

The US said that actor was Iran, an accusation Tehran has denied.

What is the US intelligence?

It is a pretty damning verdict from Mr Pompeo but as yet little detail has been given as to the exact nature of the intelligence and the extent to which a forensic analysis of the damage to the two tankers is backed up by other information – satellite or other tracking of the movements of any other vessels involved and so on.

Some may argue that there is a danger of a rush to judgement. And it is clear that if the US intends a response, especially a military one, then many countries – even friendly governments – will want to have chapter and verse on exactly what the US intelligence amounts to.

Iran, for its part, was quick to deny any involvement in the incidents. Indeed it sought to deflect blame by arguing in effect that it was being framed. “Somebody,” an Iranian official asserted, “is trying to destabilise relations between Iran and the international community.”

How has the world reacted?

UN Secretary General António Guterres condemned Thursday’s blasts.

He told the Security Council that the world cannot afford “a major confrontation in the Gulf region”.

Meanwhile, the EU called for “maximum restraint”, while Russia said no-one should jump to conclusions or use the incident to put pressure on Iran, a Russian ally.

The incident is expected to be discussed at a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council later on Thursday.

Paolo d’Amico, chairman of the tanker association, Intertanko, said the two vessels had been attacked, and expressed concern about dangers to other crews.

“If the waters are becoming unsafe, the [oil] supply to the entire Western world could be at risk,” he said.


Were you on board one of the tankers? Do you know anybody who was on board? If it is safe to do so, please share your experiences by emailing .

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:

Gulf of Oman tanker attacks: Iran calls US accusation ‘unfounded’