BEIRUT _ Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo on Thursday blamed Iran for what he called a "blatant assault" that caused explosions aboard two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, again raising tensions in the region.
Pompeo told reporters in Washington that the assessment was based on U.S. intelligence, the type of weapons used, the level of expertise needed and the belief that none of Iran's proxy groups was capable of carrying out such an attack.
Dozens of crew members were rescued after explosions on the Japanese-owned Kokuka Courageous and the Norwegian-owned Front Altair. Iran has denied any connection with the incident.
The apparent attacks spurred worldwide condemnation and calls to deescalate tension in the region and between Iran and the United States.
The vessels were damaged in waters near the Strait of Hormuz, a key area for global oil supplies.
"I strongly condemn any attack against civilian vessels. Facts must be established, and responsibilities clarified," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a U.N. Security Council meeting on cooperation with the Arab League. "If there is something the world cannot afford, it is a major confrontation in the (Persian) Gulf region."
Ahmed About Gheit, the Arab League's chief, warned that there were actors seeking to "inflame the region, and practice a kind of dangerous blackmail of the international community."
He also called on the Security Council to confront whoever is behind the attack so they could face "all legal responsibility."
On Thursday morning, the two ships were sailing in international waters when they suffered apparent attacks that led to explosions on board.
It was not clear what caused the blasts, officials said, but they were serious enough to cause a major fire on the Front Altair, producing a 15-mile plume of smoke that was captured by NASA satellites; images showed more than a third of the deck scorched while video showed a fire raging in the ship's center.
The crews _ 23 on the Front Altair and 21 on the Courageous _ were forced to abandon ship, but had been picked up and were safe, according to press statements by the vessels' owners.
The U.S. Navy, according to a statement released by U.S. Central Command, rescued the 21 crew members from the Courageous.
Iran earlier had said it had rescued all 44 of the ships' crews.
Last month, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia among others blamed Tehran for a series of attacks on four oil tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. Iran denied the accusations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif questioned the timing of Thursday's attacks, which coincided with a high-profile visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Tehran.
The two ships, according to the Japanese government, had "Japan-related" cargo.
