US, UK join Israel in accusing Iran of deadly tanker attack

— Israel’s key allies the United States and Britain joined it Sunday in blaming Iran for a deadly tanker attack off Oman, despite Tehran’s denials, and Washington vowed an “appropriate response.”

The U.S. and British statements came after Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said there was “evidence” linking Iran to the attack after the Islamic republic rejected its arch-foe’s “baseless accusations.”

The MT Mercer Street, managed by prominent Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer, was attacked Thursday off Oman.

A British security guard and a Romanian crew member were killed in what the U.S., Britain and the vessel’s operator Zodiac Maritime said appeared to be a drone strike.

Israel had blamed Iran, with Foreign Minister Yair Lapid saying Friday he had ordered its diplomats to push for U.N. action against “Iranian terrorism.”

On Sunday, Iran denied involvement, and foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said Israel “must stop such baseless accusations.”

“Iran will not hesitate for a moment to defend its… interests and national security,” he told journalists.

Shortly afterwards, Bennett accused Iran of “trying to evade responsibility for the event” in a “cowardly manner.”

“I determine, with absolute certainty, that Iran carried out the attack against the ship,” Bennett said.

“The intelligence evidence for this exists and we expect the international community will make it clear to the Iranian regime that they have made a serious mistake,” he said.