US accuses Iran of drone attack on tanker amid rising tensions in the Indian Ocean
3:09 PM EST, December 25, 2023
The United States directed allegations at Iran, claiming it was responsible for the assault on the tanker in the Indian Ocean. This strain arose from the conflict between Israel and Hamas, spilling beyond the confines of the Red Sea - as reported by Bloomberg.
Pentagon Accuses Iran
The Pentagon released a statement indicating that Iran deployed a drone, which struck the Chem Pluto, a chemical tanker flying the Liberian flag. Owned by Japan and operated by the Netherlands, the incident took place on Saturday, approximately 230 land miles away from India's coast. Thankfully, no casualties were reported.
Bloomberg noted that the allegations are stoking tensions in relations with Iran. Previously, the United States cast blame on Iran for a series of ship attacks in the Red Sea, allegedly perpetrated by Houthi fighters from Yemen. These attacks, according to the Houthi, will proceed until Israel ceases warfare in Gaza, disrupting the region responsible for about 12% of global maritime trade.
Transportation Issues
As a consequence of these actions, the world's largest container and oil carriers have opted to reroute their vessels away from this waterway. These shifts have impacted shipping markets, causing a surge in global oil prices. This situation has also led the United States to establish a maritime coalition to safeguard traffic in the Red Sea.
The White House, citing intelligence data, declared on Friday that Iran was "deeply involved" in planning Houthi attacks, offering weapons, financial support, and training. Iran's foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian rejected accusations that his country was assisting Houthi rebels, but cautioned that the waterway would not be secure until Israel halted its offensive in Gaza - as reported by Bloomberg.
"The accusation is baseless," said Amir-Abdollahian at a press conference in Tehran, as quoted by state television on Saturday. The attacks are a "solely Yemeni decision in support of, and defence for the Gaza Strip," added the Iranian politician, as quoted by Bloomberg.
