Iran rejects G7 accusations over tanker attack

"We strongly condemn the baseless statement issued by the G7 foreign ministers and the European Union's high representative for foreign affairs, in which they leveled baseless allegations against the Islamic Republic of Iran," Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement.

Iran has roundly denied having any link to the July 29 attack on the MT Mercer Street, an oil-products tanker operated by Israeli-controlled Zodiac maritime.

Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven wealthy economies said on Friday accused Iran of threatening international peace and security and said that all available evidence showed it was behind the attack, Reuters wrote.

The tanker attack and the accusations against Iran were a manufactured "scenario" with a "noteworthy" timing, Khatibzadeh said, as they came before Iran's new president took office.

Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi was endorsed on August 3 by Iran's Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and sworn in before Parliament two days later, taking over from former president Hassan Rouhani.

"For experts and those who know the history of this region, it is not a new thing that the Zionist regime [of Israel] would design such conspiracies," Khatibzadeh said.

Evidence forged

Citing the results of a probe, the US Central Command claimed on Friday that remnants from one of three explosives-laden drones that targeted the MT Mercer Street indicated it was produced in Iran, AFP wrote.

Iran's military denied the allegations.

"The Americans say they have found parts of Iran's drones in the water, and this is their evidence. But what laboratory has determined [the drones] belong to Iran?," Iran's Armed Forces spokesman Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi said, according to IRNA.

"This is the Americans' method, to weave stories and use it to accuse Iran... this is the method they have chosen to pressure Iran," he added.

"Preparing forged evidence is not a difficult task as the Zionists excel at preparing forged documents," Shekarchi said, suggesting Israel may have been behind the attack.

"If we were to confront enemies...we would declare it openly, so the recent storytelling by the enemies is a psychological operation," Shekarchi added.

The suspected drone attack killed two crew members – a Briton and a Romanian – near the mouth of the Persian Gulf, a key oil shipping route.

"Contrary to the strategy of the United States, Britain and the Zionist regime, which aim to create insecurity ...and Iranophobia, Iran's strategy is to strengthen security in the Persian Gulf," Shekarchi said.

Head of the Aerospace Division of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) warned the enemies against any acts of aggression, saying they will face a “harsh response” if they retest Iran’s power.

“The Islamic Republic has passed the test and does not need to be retested, but if they like, they can retest Iran,” Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh said, according to Press TV.

"They have tested us and they know what response they will face. We have both the power and the will to exercise power. We will certainly deliver a harsh response and they cannot make such a mistake.”

Source: Iran Daily