Iran has refuted Israeli assertions linking it to the capture of a British-owned and Japanese-operated cargo ship in the southern Red Sea by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani stated on Monday during a press conference that regional resistance groups operate independently based on their interests, dismissing Israeli claims as an attempt to divert attention from what he termed as Israel’s “irreparable defeat” against Hamas militants in Gaza.
Israel, on Sunday, characterized the incident as an “Iranian act of terrorism” with implications for international maritime security.
The Houthis, aligned with Tehran, have been launching long-range missile and drone attacks at Israel in solidarity with Palestinian Hamas militants engaged in conflict in Gaza.