Tehran denies US claims that it targeted oil tankers

TEHRAN

Iran on Wednesday denied claims by U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton that it had been involved in an attack on oil tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) early this month.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi described the allegation as “ridiculous” and “unsurprising”, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency.

Mousavi went on to assert that Iran's “heightened awareness and defense preparedness” would frustrate plans -- he did not say by whom -- aimed at “sowing chaos in the region”.

Speaking from UAE capital Abu Dhabi, Bolton claimed the attacks had been staged with the use of “naval mines almost certainly from Iran”.

According to Bolton, who is known for his hawkish stances vis-à-vis the Middle East, a separate failed Iranian attack had occurred in Saudi Arabia’s Port of Yanbu.

In early May, the UAE authorities said that four vessels -- including two oil tankers -- had been targeted in “sabotage attacks” near its territorial waters.

Abu Dhabi, however, has so far refrained from blaming any particular party for the alleged attack.

Days later, Saudi Arabia said that armed drones had attacked two pumping stations on the East-West Pipeline, which carries oil from the kingdom’s Eastern Province to the Port of Yanbu.

Riyadh was quick to blame Yemen’s Houthi rebel group for the alleged drone attack.