Yutaka Katada, the president of Kokuka Sangyo, the Japanese company that chartered the Kokuka Sangyo oil tanker, said the ship was hit by a torpedo and not a mine, as US officials claim that Iran is blaming it. "We have received reports that something has flown to the ship," Katada said at a press conference, which was reprized by the US press. "I don't think there was a time bomb or an object attached to the side of the ship, "he said, adding that a torpedo flew over the waterline. "
On Thursday, US Central Command stated that a video would show a Gashti class patrol boat of the Guardians of the Iranian Revolution approaching the Kokuka Courageous ship to remove some unexploded mines. Today the president of the United States, Donald Trump, reiterated that the attacks yesterday against two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman have the signature of Iran. "We are sure that they led him because we saw the boat in the video. One of the mines did not explode and is of Iranian manufacture"Said Trump.
The US president also said that if Iran were to block the Strait of Hormuz, this "would not be closed for long". "They won't close the strait", It reaffirmed Trump during a telephone interview on "Fox & Friends", but without explaining how the United States would respond in such a situation.
Trump's statements follow those made by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who at a press conference said that the attacks on ships are part of a "campaign" of "growing tension" by Iran and pose a threat to international peace and security.
For Pompeo, the investigations conducted by intelligence would show that there is the Iranian hand behind the attack.