Israel blames Iran for ship blast; Tehran denies accusation

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Iran on Monday for an explosion aboard an Israeli-owned ship in the Gulf of Oman last week, which Tehran has denied.

The vehicle-carrier MV Helios Ray was hit by a blast between Thursday night and Friday morning.

"This was indeed an operation by Iran. That is clear," Netanyahu told Kan radio, without giving evidence.

Iran's foreign ministry on Monday "strongly" rejected the accusations, calling the accusation "invalid".