Iran says UAE ship attack worrying, urges vigilance
Tehran (KNA) - Iran has voiced concern about "adventurism by foreign players" to disrupt maritime navigation in the Persian Gulf region, after the United Arab emirates (UAE) confirmed Sunday that a number of ships had been subjected to "sabotage" off its coast.
In a statement issued early Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Moussavi described the incident as "lamentable" and "worrying" and called for thorough investigations.
He also warned Persian Gulf neighbors to stay vigilant in the face of plots by "ill-wishers" to undermine maritime security.
The statement came shortly after the UAE foreign ministry, despite initial denial, confirmed that at least four commercial vessels had been subjected to "sabotage" near the Emirates' territorial waters.
The statement added that there were no victims, but fell short of giving any details on possible damage to commercial vessels or which countries' flags they carried.
The Lebanese television network al-Mayadeen broke the news on Sunday, reporting that at least seven tankers had been destroyed in a blaze at the UAE's strategic port of al-Fujairah, one of the world's largest oil bunkering sites near the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: PressTV