Germany Says US Video ‘Not Enough’ to Blame Iran for Tanker Attacks
A video released by the US is “not enough” to prove Iranian involvement in a series of oil tanker attacks in the Gulf of Oman, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas stated.
The Pentagon released a blurry video earlier on Friday, which purportedly showed Iran’s Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) removing an unexploded limpet mine from the hull of the ‘Kokuka Courageous’, one of two vessels attacked on Thursday.
Though Washington officials rushed to blame Iran for the attack, other countries have been more cautious.
Speaking to reporters in Norway on Friday, Maas said he remains skeptical.
“The video is not enough. We can understand what is being shown, sure, but to make a final assessment, this is not enough for me,” he added.
US President Donald Trump and Maas’ American counterpart, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have both pointed the finger of blame at Tehran.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stated that Washington’s claim that Tehran carried out the attack on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman is unsurprising, warning that the US has resorted to “Plan B” to sabotage the Islamic Republic’s diplomatic efforts.
“I warned of exactly this scenario a few months ago, not because I’m clairvoyant, but because I recognize where the B Team is coming from,” Zarif tweeted, using the derogatory term he coined to described the Trump administration.
The B-Team is a reference to hawkish US National Security Adviser John Bolton, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The top diplomat warned that Trump’s “B Team” was now moving to “Plan B: Sabotage diplomacy” in an attempt to “cover up its economic terrorism” against Iran.
Source: Farsnews
Published: 15-06-2019
