Saudi Arabia blames its rival Iran over the recent attack on two fuel transport ships in the Gulf of Oman.
Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, said Saudi Arabia would not hesitate to face any threat as the region was experiencing a warming situation.
Two fuel ships were attacked in the Gulf of Oman last Thursday, and about a month ago, four more ships were struck off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.
The US also blamed Iran for Thursday’s attack, which Iran denied.
Middle East “We do not want war in the region … But we do not hesitate to respond to any threat to our people, our sovereignty and our territorial integrity,” Mohammed bin Salman told an Arabic newspaper.
“The Iranian regime did not respect the visit of the Prime Minister to Iran. During his visit to Iran, they responded to the efforts of the Japanese Prime Minister by attacking two fuel ships. One of them belongs to Japan,” he said.
On Saturday, the world’s largest international shipping company said that ships had told them not to include ships to Oman and the Khomas in the aftermath of the attacks.
Jacob Lawson, chief of maritime security for the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), told the BBC that if the situation worsens, the security forces will take steps to protect the vessels.
The US has released a video alleging that after Thursday’s attack, Iranian military personnel were loading explosive bombs into smaller vessels from an attack ship.
