UNITED NATIONS, June 13 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday condemned attacks on two oil carriers in the Sea of Oman, calling for the establishment of facts.
"I strongly condemn any attack against civilian vessels. Facts must be established, and responsibilities clarified," Guterres told the Security Council meeting on the cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organizations.
"If there is something the world cannot afford, it is a major confrontation in the Gulf region," he added.
Earlier Thursday, two oil tankers were hit in the Sea of Oman. At least one of them was operated by a Japanese company.
The attacks came amid Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Iran, who is seeking to help ease tensions between Iran and the United States.
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has called the attacks on Japan-related tankers "suspicious," noting that they occurred while Abe was meeting with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "for extensive and friendly talks."
In May, four commercial vessels suffered similar sabotage off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.
