Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blames Iran for the blast that hit an Israeli-owned cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman last week. Interviewed by Israel’s public broadcaster Kan, Netanyahu said, “This is indeed an action by Iran, it is clear.” Asked whether Israel would retaliate the attack on the ship, Netanyahu sidestepped the issue, saying simply that Iran “is Israel’s biggest enemy and we are striking them across the region.”

Netanyahu then added that Israel has told the United States it will not allow Iran to have nuclear weapons, no matter what the terms are of any potential deal. “The Iranians will not have nuclear weapons, with or without an agreement. I said that to my friend [US President Joe] Biden as well,” Netanyahu stated.

Already on Feb. 27, Defense Minister Benny Gantz told Kan there is “a likelihood” that Iran is behind the explosion. According to Gantz, the location of the ship in relative close proximity to the Iranian coast raises the notion and the assessment that the country was behind the attack. Still, Gantz noted that an investigation into the incident had not yet been completed. “We need to continue investigating. The Iranians are looking to harm Israelis and Israeli infrastructure. The proximity to Iran leads to the assessment that there is a likelihood that this is an Iranian initiative. We are committed to continuing to check,” Gantz said.

The Israeli ambassador to the United States and United Nations, Gilad Erdan, told Army Radio Feb. 28, “It was no secret that the Iranians are trying to harm Israeli targets.”