Bogdan Tudorache

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has urgently summoned the Iranian ambassador to Bucharest, to offer explanations related to Thursday’s attack on the Mercer Street oil tanker, as a result of which a Romanian and a British man lost their lives.

The tanker is owned by Israeli multi-millionaire Eyal Ofer’ Zodic group, the ship carrying the Japanese flag, according to AP and Euronews.

“Romania strongly condemns the drone attack, absolutely unacceptable, committed on the Mercer Street ship, which resulted in the loss of life of the ship’s captain, a Romanian citizen, who fell on duty,” reads a statement from the MFA.

“Given the elements presented by Romania’s international partners regarding the fact that the attack was deliberate and, respectively, coordinated by Iran, Romania requests the presentation of explanations by the Iranian authorities, without delay and reserves the right to act consequently, together with its international partners, for an appropriate response. The ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Bucharest was urgently summoned to the Romanian MFA for this purpose,” the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said.

“The attack on a civilian target, which has caused loss of life and significant property damage, has no justification and must be strongly condemned internationally. The MFA continues to coordinate with Romania’s allies and partners to identify the most appropriate response measures. In these difficult moments, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is with the families and relatives of the victims on the Mercer Street ship and offers all the support in the ongoing repatriation process of the deceased Romanian citizen.”