Iran rejects that it targeted tanker bound for India

Iran' has rejected as "worthless" Washington's claims that a drone attack targeting a tanker off India’s coast  was "fired from Iran". "We declare these claims as completely rejected and worthless," said foreign ministry spokesman said when asked about the US accusations.

"Such claims are aimed at projecting, distracting public attention, and covering up for the full support of the American government for the crimes of the Zionist regime (Israel) in Gaza," he said.

The  targeting of a Japanese-owned chemical tanker came amid a flurry of drone and missile attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel is battling Hamas militants. The Pentagon later openly accused Tehran of the attack.

The tanker has since arrived off Mumbai on December 25th where it was inspected by an Indian Navy explosive ordnance disposal team according to media reports.

The Navy said an initial review of the ship's damage pointed to a drone strike, but that further analysis would be necessary to determine the "vector of attack".