International community condemns attacks on civilian vessels

Bucharest condemns drone strike last Thursday off the coast of Oman, when a Romanian was also killed.

Corina Cristea, 04.08.2021, 14:00

Repeatedly accused in recent years of posing a threat to freedom of
navigation, after being blamed for attacks on several ships, Iran is again at
the centre of a tense episode. This time it’s about an attack that took place
in the Arabian Sea on 29th July on the Mercer Street oil tanker
managed by an Israeli citizen. Two crew members were killed in the attack, a
Romanian and a Briton. The vessel was sailing, empty of cargo, off the coast of
Oman and the strike was carried out by drone in the Strait of Hormuz.

Press agencies note that the incident marks a new chapter in the ongoing
tensions between Israel and Iran, following other acts of sabotage that
recently targeted other ships. The United States, Israel and the UK blamed the
attack on Iran, who denies the allegations and says some countries intend to
create insecurity and chaos in the international arena by orchestrating such
measures. The European Union and NATO both strongly condemned the attack. Such acts contrary to the
security and freedom of navigation in the region are unacceptable, said EU’s
spokeswoman on foreign affairs and security policy Nabila Massrali, adding that
the circumstances of this attack must be clarified. A NATO spokesperson
recalled that freedom of navigation is vital for all NATO Allies, and must be upheld in accordance with
international law and said NATO remains concerned about Iran’s destabilising
actions in the region, urging it to respect its international obligations.

In the wake of the incident, Washington vowed
collective response together with its allies and in London, prime minister
Boris Johnson said Iran must face up to the consequences of its actions. The
Romanian foreign ministry has been in contact with officials from Israel, the
United States and the UK, including high-ranking officials, and after the
conclusion began to form, based on initial assessments, that Iran may be behind
the attack, the four countries said they were preparing a coordinated response.
In a telephone conversation with the EU foreign policy chief, Romanian foreign
minister Bogdan Aurescu reiterated his strong condemnation of the attack
against a civilian target and the impact of this incident on the freedom of
navigation in the region, in keeping with the international law in the field.

On Tuesday, representatives of the UK, Romania
and Liberia informed the UN Security Council that it is very likely that
Iranian forces used one or more aerial vehicles to carry out the strike off the
coast of Oman. This attack disrupted and
posed a risk to the safety and security of international shipping and was a
clear violation of international law, the countries said in the letter to
the Council, adding: This act must be condemned by the international
community. Also on Tuesday, the Gulf Cooperation Council, a regional organisation
whose members are all allies of the US or have tense relations with Tehran over
the latter’s nuclear programme and for other political or religious reasons,
also joined criticism of the attack and called on the international community
to act in order to put an end to the acts of aggression against navigation in
this area. (CM)