Blaming Iran for Thursday’s attack on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman, the Trump Administration considers its response as the rest of the world — including American allies — urges caution and express scepticism about Washington’s claims.

Sources said the Pentagon is considering increased security around tankers and/or the deployment of up to 6,000 additional Navy, Air Force and Army personnel to the Persian Gulf.

See also Q&A: How Serious is Iran-US Confrontation After Tanker Attacks?
EA on BBC: Iran, the US, and the Tanker Attacks

A senior official added to US claims with the assertion that Iran fired a surface-to-air missile at a US drone in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday morning. The incident supposedly occurred in between the distress calls from the Kokuka Courageous and the Front Altair, the tankers damaged by explosions.

Donald Trump, in his first public comment on the episode, cited the US military video of a Revolutionary Guards boat alongside the Kokuka Courageous, removing an unexploded limpet mine. He claimed this had “Iran written all over it”.

But German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, whose mediation effort was rejected by Iran earlier this week, said the video was “not enough” to determine Iran’s responsibility. The Norwegian Government issued a similar statement, and the European Union cautioned against any escalation.

The Japanese owner of the Kokuka Courageous added another layer of uncertainty, saying the ship was struck by a flying object rather than damaged by a mine.

And Trump, who pulled back hawkish aides such as National Security Advisor John Bolton earlier this month, still had the apparent priority of a meeting with Iran’s leaders — having said last month that he had provided telephone numbers for them to call.

“I’m ready when they are,” Trump told his favorite program Fox & Friends. “Whenever they’re ready, it’s OK. In the meantime, I’m in no rush.”

Iran’s “False Flag” Defense

Iranian officials continued to argue that the tankers were damaged in a “false flag” attack, seeking to blame Tehran and set up a pretext for military action by the US and allies such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Israel.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has derided the “B-Team” of Bolton, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Sultan. Yesterday he portrayed an Iranian leadership ready for dialogue — but blaming the “economic terrorism” of US sanctions as the root of the conflict.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry jabbed that the UAE is in no position to question the credibility of Iranian officials.

Spokesman Abbas Mousavi responded to UAE Minister of State Anwar Gargash’s statement that the B-Team references of Zarif “become more farcical and his credibility diminishing”. He said the US treated the Gulf States as “milking cows”.

Iranian State media also emphasized the concern of American allies, headlining it as “US Video Not Enough to Blame Iran for Tanker Attacks”.

Press TV quoted Germany’s Maas and Nathalie Tocci, a senior adviser to European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini: “Before we blame someone, we need credible evidence.”