Iranian authorities have denounced this Thursday as "state piracy" the attack carried out by the United States Army against a ship in waters near Oman, an incident in which, as confirmed by the Government of India, three sailors who were initially reported missing have died.
"The brutal American attacks against Indian merchant ships, which have caused the death of at least three Indian citizens, constitute clear proof of the current United States policy of armed robbery and state piracy," said the spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmaeil Baqaei, on social media.
Immediately after, after expressing his "most sincere condolences" and "support" to the families of the deceased, as well as to the Indian people and Government, the spokesman for the Islamic Republic urged the international community to "hold Washington accountable" for its "illegal conduct" which, he warned, "continues to threaten global peace and security while endangering freedom of navigation."
This same Thursday, Indian authorities confirmed the deaths of the three crew members who were missing after the American attack on the ship "M/T Settebello", flying the flag of Palau, as it was sailing off the coast of Oman.
On the previous day, the United States Army Central Command (CENTCOM) had reported that its forces "immobilized" and opened fire on the tanker "M/T Settebello", which was crossing the Gulf of Oman, for disregarding American orders, in the context of the blockade imposed on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz area.