Iran Summons Envoys of UK, Romania in Protest at Tanker Attack Allegations
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The British chargé d'affaires and the Romanian ambassador to Tehran were summoned to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to receive protests at the baseless accusations that the Islamic Republic has been involved in a recent attack on an Israeli-owned tanker near Oman.
In the first meeting on Monday, the head of the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s Western European Bureau expressed regret over the baseless allegations raised by the British foreign secretary, saying, “These remarks, which were made in a hasty manner and without providing any proof or evidence, are rejected and strongly condemned.”
“This is not the first time that the UK has leveled hasty accusations without evidence against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The country has previously accused Iran of certain moves, which were never proved and no evidence has been ever provided to substantiate them,” the Iranian diplomat added.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry official said the source of instability in the Persian Gulf is not Iran, but the presence of ships and troops of extra-regional countries in the region, adding, “Iran has always considered the Persian Gulf a safe waterway for safe passage of ships, and has made efforts to establish and bolster security there.”
Warning against any acts of adventurism by the Israeli occupying regime or any other parties, the Iranian official said the definite policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is to defend itself and give a decisive, timely and befitting response to any act of adventurism.
The British envoy promised to relay Iran’s protest to his respective country as soon as possible.
In the other meeting on Monday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s Director General for Mediterranean and Eastern European Affairs talked to Romanian ambassador in Tehran, rejecting the illegal and unacceptable allegations leveled by Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs against the Islamic Republic.
The Iranian official urged the Romanian diplomat to convey the Islamic Republic's strong protest over the issue to his country's officials.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry official said some countries intend to create insecurity and chaos in international arena by orchestrating such measures, noting that other states must remain vigilant in the face of such plots.
He emphasized Iran's principled policy, whose ultimate goal is to ensure maritime security in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and international waters.
The Romanian ambassador, for his part, said he would immediately convey the Iranian government’s protest to the respective officials of his country, Press TV reported.
The US and the UK have joined the Israeli regime in accusing Iran of orchestrating Thursday's attack on an Israeli tanker off the coast of Oman.
Two crew members, a Briton and a Romanian, were killed when a petroleum products tanker managed by Israeli-owned Zodiac Maritime came under attack on Thursday off Oman’s coast, the company said on Friday.
London-based Zodiac said on its website that the attack in the Arabian Sea on Mercer Street, a Liberian-flagged Japanese-owned ship, was still being investigated.
