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Iran summons British Amb. after London accused Tehran of attacking tankers

TEHRAN, June 15 (KUNA) -- Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned Saturday British Ambassador in Tehran Rob Macaire after London accused the Islamic Republic of attacking two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman few days ago.
The Ministry demanded clarifications from Macaire regarding Britain's "unacceptable, unrealistic and unfounded accusation," the state-run TV reported.
Britain's Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said yesterday London was "confident" Iran was to blame for the attack on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman.
"Our own assessment leads us to conclude that responsibility for the attacks almost certainly lies with Iran," Hunt said.
One of the ships, bearing a Marshall Islands flag had departed a Qatari port, while the other, a Panama flag-bearing ship, had departed Saudi Arabia.
The Iranian foreign ministry asked Macaire to explain the accusations and reverse its position.
Macaire, said the TV, said he would convey the Iranian position to his government.
US State Secretary Mike Pompeo directly accused Iran of carrying out the attack, amid an assessment, he said, was "based on intelligence, the weapons used (and) the levels of expertise needed to execute the operation." (end) mw.bs