Antony Blinken pledges to punish Iran Over Ship Attack
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken pledged to punish Iran once more for the attack on an oil ship in the Arabian Sea, emphasizing that “impunity” will not be tolerated by the international community.
During a virtual session of the United Nations Security Council on maritime security, Blinken said the late-July bombs on the Mercer Street oil tanker, are provocative acts.”
“These officials must be held responsible by all of our countries. Failure to do so will simply contribute to their sense of impunity and inspire others to flout the rules of the sea “He added.
On the 29th of July, an oil tanker was attacked in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Oman, killing two of its crew members, a British and a Romanian. Several nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel, have blamed Iran for the assault, which Tehran denies.
In the South China Sea region, where many conflicts are raging, Blinken also denounced attempts to “intimidate other nations, deterring them from lawfully utilizing their maritime resources,” in an apparent reference to Beijing.
“Some may argue that it is not the prerogative of the United States or any other nation that does not claim islands and seas in the South China Sea to resolve the conflict,” he added.
