Japanese oil tanker Kokuka Courageous was attacked and damaged in Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday.
Chief executive of Japanese company operating Kokuka Courageous says 'flying objects' caused the damage to vessel rather than mines used by Iranian forces, as claimed by the Trump administration.
According to the INDEPENDENT, Yutaka Katada, chief executive of the Japanese company operating Kokuka Courageous, one of the two vessels attacked, said the damage could not have been caused by mines or torpedos that are shot underwater, since the damage was reportedly above the ship’s waterline.
“It seems that something flew towards them. That created the hole, is the report I’ve received,” Mr Katada said at a press conference in Tokyo on Friday, the Financial Times reported. Mr Katada also described reports of a mine attack as "false" according to several outlets in attendance at the press conference.
Donald Trump’s administration has meanwhile insisted the attacks were carried out by Iran which has denied having any involvement in either of the two incidents, reported the INDEPENDENT.
The US released video shortly after that it said showed Iranian Revolutionary Guard officials removing what was likely an unexploded limpet mine from the Kokuka Courageous.
The owner's of the other vessel, the Front Altair, have not yet provided an explanation of what they believe to be the cause of the damage.
The entire 21-person crew evacuated the Kokuka Courageous. Sailors reported seeing the “flying objects” from the vessel before the incident occurred, according to Mr Katada, reported the INDEPENDENT.
The White House has not responded Mr Katada’s comments.
