TEHRAN: Iran’s international ministry rejected on Monday (Dec 25) as “nugatory” Washington’s claims {that a} drone assault focusing on a tanker off the coast of India was “fired from Iran”.
Saturday’s focusing on of a Japanese-owned chemical tanker got here amid a flurry of drone and missile assaults by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels within the Pink Sea in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, the place Israel is battling Hamas militants.
The Pentagon later brazenly accused Tehran of the assault.
“We declare these claims as fully rejected and nugatory,” stated international ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani when requested in regards to the US accusations.
“Such claims are aimed toward projecting, distracting public consideration, and overlaying up for the total help of the American authorities for the crimes of the Zionist regime (Israel) in Gaza,” he added.
The Gaza Strip has endured over 11 weeks of Israeli air and floor assaults which have killed greater than 20,400 individuals, principally girls and youngsters, in keeping with the well being ministry within the Hamas-run coastal territory.
Israel has vowed to crush Hamas after the Palestinian militant group carried out a cross-border assault on Oct 7 that killed round 1,140 individuals in Israel, principally civilians, in keeping with an AFP tally primarily based on Israeli figures.
Palestinian militants additionally kidnapped about 250 individuals, 129 of whom Israel says stay in Gaza.
Kanani additionally slammed as “repetitive” and “threadbare” current remarks by UK Overseas Secretary David Cameron who branded Iran a “malign affect within the area and the world” and urged a “set of deterrent measures in opposition to” it.
The Islamic Republic, which helps Hamas financially and militarily, has hailed the Oct 7 assaults as a “success” however denied any direct involvement.
Yemeni rebels’ current assaults on transport vessels within the Pink Sea have prompted main corporations to reroute their cargo vessels across the southern tip of Africa, a for much longer voyage with larger gas prices.
Iran has repeatedly dismissed US and Israeli accusations that Tehran was concerned in assaults by the Houthis, saying the group was appearing by itself.
