Iran rejects 'laughable' Bolton accusation it was behind ship attack

Iran strongly rejects an accusation by US National Security Adviser John Bolton earlier that it was “almost certainly” behind the May 12 attacks on four ships off the United Arab Emirates.

“Making such laughable claims… is not strange” coming from the US, foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi says in a statement.

US National Security Adviser John Bolton arrives to speak at the commencement for the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut., May 22, 2019. (AP/Jessica Hill)

Bolton’s accusation, which follows a US military buildup in the Gulf, comes on the eve of emergency Arab and Gulf summits called by Iran’s regional arch-rival Saudi Arabia to discuss the standoff and ways to isolate Tehran.

Bolton said that additional US forces in the region were sent as a “deterrent” and that Washington’s response will be prudent.

— AFP