The Military mentioned explosives professionals boarded the send to evaluate the wear, together with a 30-inch-wide (76-centimeter) hollow punched in its aspect, and to assemble particles and bomb residue. The proof was once taken to a lab on the headquarters of the U.S. 5th Fleet within the Gulf Arab country of Bahrain.
Military investigators concluded that the drone used was once an Iranian Shahed-136, the similar roughly bomb-carrying drone Iran has provided to Russia in its warfare on Ukraine. Iranian drones have been utilized by Yemeni rebels to assault Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates previous this yr, the Military mentioned.
“The Iranian assault on a business tanker transiting world waters was once planned, flagrant and threatening, endangering the lives of the send’s team and destabilizing maritime safety within the Center East,” mentioned Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.
The Pacific Zircon is operated by means of Singapore-based Japanese Pacific Transport, which is an organization in the end owned by means of Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer. Israeli and U.S. officers mentioned on the time of the assault that they suspected Iran was once at the back of it.
Iran has denied any involvement within the assault, with its undertaking to the United International locations disregarding the allegations as “false information” in a remark ultimate week. There was once no quick remark from Iranian officers at the U.S. probe.
Remaining yr, a suspected Iranian drone strike hit the Israeli-associated oil tanker Mercer Side road off Oman, killing two other people onboard. In contemporary months, Iran has lashed out at its perceived enemies in a foreign country amid monthslong national protests calling for the overthrow of its ruling clerics.