German official: US video ‘not enough’ to pin blame on Iran for tanker attacks

Germany’s foreign minister on Friday said that a video released by the U.S. is insufficient evidence to prove Iran was behind attacks this week on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman.

“The video is not enough. We can understand what is being shown, sure, but to make a final assessment, this is not enough for me,” Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told reporters in Oslo, according to Reuters.

{mosads}Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday blamed Iran for the attacks on the Norwegian-owned MT Front Altair and the Japanese-owned Kokuka Courageous, citing intelligence, the weapons used, expertise required and similar recent attacks.

The U.S. military released a video later on Thursday that it says shows Iran’s Revolutionary Guard removing a mine from one of the targeted oil tankers.

The captain of the Kokuka disputed the U.S. assertion on Friday.

“Our crew said that the ship was attacked by a flying object,” said Yutaka Katada, president of ship operator Kokuka Sangyo.

Katada, citing accounts from the ship’s crew, said, “I do not think there was a time bomb or an object attached to the side of the ship,” according to The New York Times.

Iran has pushed back on the U.S. assigning blame, calling the accusation “the simplest and the most convenient way for Pompeo and other U.S. officials.”

Thursday’s attack came just weeks after allegations of sabotage in attacks against four oil tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. The U.S. blamed Iran, pointing to limpet mines that officials said were Iranian.

Iran denied any involvement in those attacks.