Qatar calls for resorting to international law after tanker attack off Oman

Qatar condemned on Monday an attack on an oil tanker off the coast of Oman on Friday and called for resorting to the international law to ensure that such attacks would not be repeated in the future, the foreign ministry said.

The ministry said in a statement that Qatar totally rejects "actions that would disrupt the safety and security of international maritime transport and impede the movement of ships and tankers."

The United States, Israel and Britain blamed Iran for the attack on an Israeli-managed tanker off the coast of Oman. Tehran has denied any involvement in the suspected drone attack on Thursday that killed two crew members, a Briton and a Romanian.

Tehran is "sowing violence and destruction", an Israeli official said.

Iran "is not only Israel's problem, but it is the world's problem. Its behaviour threatens the freedom of navigation and global commerce", the official added.

US Navy forces came to the aid of the crew in response to an emergency distress call and saw evidence of the attack, said an American military statement.

It added that initial indications "clearly point" to a drone-style attack, and that US Navy ships were now escorting the vessel with US personnel aboard to help.

Analysts said the attack bore all the hallmarks of tit-for-tat exchanges in the "shadow war" between Israel and Iran, in which vessels linked to each nation have been targeted in waters around the Gulf.

The Israeli official warned that "our campaign against them (Iran) will continue".

Zodiac Maritime, owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer, said the incident on board the MT Mercer Street on Thursday killed one Romanian and a UK national, who was a guard for British maritime security firm Ambrey.

The vessel was in the northern Indian Ocean, travelling from Dar es Salaam to Fujairah with no cargo onboard when the attack occurred, it said.

"We are not aware of harm to any other personnel," it said in a statement, adding that the Japanese-owned tanker was back under the control of its crew and was steaming to an undisclosed "safe location" under US naval escort.

Oman's state news agency said the country's navy dispatched a ship and confirmed the attack took place outside the sultanate's territorial waters.