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Tanker attack: Tensions rise as Iran and Israel trade accusations Tanker attack: UK and US blame Iran for deadly ship attack
(about 2 hours later)
Naftali Bennett raised speculation about retaliation, saying "we know how to send a message to Iran in our own way" The Mercer Street was attacked off the coast of Oman, and two on board were killed
Israel's PM has said he knows "with certainty" that Iran was involved in a deadly tanker attack off Oman, accusations Tehran called "baseless". The UK and US believe Iran was behind a tanker attack that killed two people, and have vowed to respond, calling it a violation of international law.
Two crew members died when the MV Mercer Street, operated by an Israeli-owned firm, was attacked on Thursday. The MV Mercer Street, operated by an Israeli-owned firm, was attacked off Oman on Thursday.
Israeli PM Naftali Bennett warned "we know how to send a message to Iran", while Tehran said it would "not hesitate to defend its interests". A British national and a Romanian citizen were killed.
There have been several recent attacks on Israeli- and Iranian-operated ships. The statements came after Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said there was "evidence" that its longstanding foe Iran was responsible.
The attacks since March have been seen as tit-for-tat incidents. Mr Bennett warned that "we know how to send a message to Iran in our own way", while Tehran rejected what it called the "baseless accusations".
The BBC's security correspondent, Frank Gardner, says this undeclared shadow war - and its counter-denials - had been heating up, but the human casualties on the Mercer Street marked a significant escalation. The attack on the MV Mercer Street appears to be the latest escalation in an undeclared "shadow war" between Israel and Iran.
A British security guard and a Romanian crew member died on the Zodiac Maritime-operated vessel, with the US pointing to a drone attack. Since March there have been several attacks on both Israeli and Iranian-operated vessels, which are seen as tit-for-tat incidents. Casualties are considered rare.
Mr Bennett told a cabinet meeting on Sunday intelligence evidence existed that Iran had carried out the attack. Iran has also accused Israel of targeting its nuclear sites and scientists.
He called on the international community to make it clear that Iran had "made a serious mistake".
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Saeed Khatibzadeh, told reporters Israel "must stop such baseless accusations".
He said of the allegations: "Whoever sows the wind reaps the whirlwind."
Both the US and UK also blamed Iran, however.
"We believe this attack was deliberate, targeted, and a clear violation of international law by Iran," UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement.
"UK assessments have concluded that it is highly likely that Iran attacked the MV Mercer Street in international waters off Oman on 29 July using one or more Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)."
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington was "confident that Iran conducted this attack," and that an "appropriate response" would follow.
EXPLAINED: Iran and Israel's shadow warEXPLAINED: Iran and Israel's shadow war
Iran has accused Israel of attacks on its nuclear sites and scientists. In a statement on Sunday, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said London believed Iran had used one or more drones against the MV Mercer Street, calling it "deliberate, targeted, and a clear violation of international law".
It comes against a backdrop of talks in Vienna that are trying to revive a 2015 international deal under which sanctions on Iran are lifted in return for commitments from Tehran to curb its nuclear programme. "Iran must end such attacks, and vessels must be allowed to navigate freely," he added.
Western countries accuse Iran of trying to build a nuclear bomb. Iran, in turn, denies this, insisting its nuclear programme is focused on research and power generation. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington was also "confident that Iran conducted this", and that an "appropriate response" would follow.
Israel's Prime Minister said it expected the international community to make clear to Iran that it had made a serious mistake.
Naftali Bennett raised speculation about retaliation, saying "we know how to send a message to Iran in our own way"
Iran conceded nothing in response. Its foreign ministry spokesman, Saeed Khatibzadeh, told reporters that "the Zionist regime (Israel) has created insecurity, terror and violence".
He said Israel "must stop such baseless accusations", warning: "Whoever sows the wind reaps the whirlwind."
The escalation comes against the backdrop of key nuclear talks in Vienna. Officials are attempting to revive a 2015 international deal under which sanctions on Iran are lifted in return for commitments from Tehran to curb its nuclear programme.
Western countries have accused Iran of trying to build a nuclear bomb. Iran denies this, insisting its nuclear programme is focused on research and power generation.