Source: BBC
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has swiftly and categorically pointed the finger of blame at Tehran.
“This assessment,” he said, was “based on intelligence, the weapons used, the level of expertise needed to execute the operation, recent similar Iranian attacks on shipping, and the fact that no proxy group operating in the area has the resources and proficiency to act with such a high degree of sophistication”.
It is a pretty damning verdict – but as yet little detail has been given as to the exact nature of the intelligence and the extent to which a forensic analysis of the damage to the two tankers is backed up by other information: satellite or other tracking of the movements of any other vessels involved and so on.
Yes US needs to come out with clear cut evidence if Iran is being accused. With advance surveillance facilities concrete proof of Iran involvement should not be a big problem.