In response to the United States' claims on Thursday that Iran was responsible for attacks on 2 oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian mission to the U.N. dismissed the accusation as "unfounded," and called for an immediate dialogue to reduce pressure and prevent "the reckless and dangerous policies and practices of the U.S."
Context: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blamed Iran for the "unprovoked attacks" in the busy oil route earlier on Thursday, adding that the U.S. made its assessment based on intelligence about the type of weapons used. Already, tensions have been high following tightened sanctions on Iran — largely on the nation's oil industry and aggression.
What they're saying: In a statement on Thursday evening, the mission said:
- "Neither fabrications and disinformation campaigns nor shamelessly blaming others can change the realities," per the U.N. mission statement. "The U.S. and its regional allies must stop warmongering and put an end to mischievous plots as well as false flag operations in the region."
- "Reiterating its longstanding position on the need for promoting peace and security in the broader Persian Gulf region, the Islamic Republic of Iran stands ready to play an active and constructive role in ensuring the security of strategic maritime passages as well as promoting peace, stability and security in the region."
That the US immediately jumped to make allegations against Iran—w/o a shred of factual or circumstantial evidence—only makes it abundantly clear that the #B_Team is moving to a #PlanB: Sabotage diplomacy—including by @AbeShinzo—and cover up its #EconomicTerrorism against Iran.
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) June 14, 2019
Go deeper... Iranian foreign minister to Trump: "Threats against Iran never work"
