[1][2][8] The United States accused Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of being "directly responsible" for the attacks.

[12] In response, Iran threatened to close off the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping that will cause a consequential effect on global oil market.

[16] On 5 May, U.S. National security adviser John Bolton announced that the U.S. was deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and four B-52 bombers to the Middle East to "send a clear and unmistakable message" to Iran following intelligence reports of an alleged Iranian plot to attack U.S. forces in the region.

[17][18] Israeli intelligence also warned the United States in days prior to the incident of what it said was Iran's intention to strike Saudi vessels.

[19] In the days before the incident, the United States had warned that Iran or its proxies could target marine traffic in the region and deployed naval forces to counter what it called "clear indications" of a threat.

Both incidents led observers to speculate that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps orchestrated both attacks to send a message of willingness to inflict economic harm on the Gulf Cooperation Council states and the ability to influence oil trade outside the Strait of Hormuz.

[22] On 12 May 2019, morning local time, a pro-Hezbollah news channel Al Mayadeen falsely reported that seven oil tankers were involved in an explosion in the Port of Fujairah.

The US military team that assessed the blasts initial investigation blamed Iran or Iranian-backed proxies of causing the attack.

[27] The Norwegian insurer report on the incident concluded that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are “highly likely” to have facilitated the attacks.

The initial findings of the international investigation submitted to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) by the UAE permanent mission to the United Nations in a joint statement with Saudi Arabia and Norway on 6 June 2019 stated "strong indications that the four attacks were part of a sophisticated and coordinated operation carried out with significant operational capacity."

The investigation assessed the damage to the four vessels and conducted a chemical analysis of the debris, concluding it was "highly likely" that limpet mines were used in the attack.

[31][32] Germany and the Netherlands suspended military training missions in Iraq, also citing escalating tensions in the region with Iran.

[33] Norway, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates wrote a joint letter to the UNSC notifying them of the targeting of commercial ships in the Middle East.

[34] On 6 June 2019, a joint statement submitted by the UAE, alongside Saudi Arabia and Norway, to the UNSC relayed the findings of the international investigation which concluded that a "state actor" is "highly likely" the culprit of the attack, but did not name a suspected perpetrator.

[35] Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif condemned the June 6 meeting between the United Nations Security Council and Saudi Arabia, Norway and the UAE.

[38] The United States president Donald Trump threatened Iran with a "bad problem" following the news of the sabotage attack.

[40] Iran quickly dismissed the accusations, with a Foreign Ministry spokesman describing them as "ridiculous" and calling Bolton a "warmonger".

[citation needed] Saudi Arabia, who also had an oil pipeline attacked by Iranian backed Houthi rebels in Yemen around the same time, called for an emergency meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and leaders of the Arab League to discuss the security of the region and the recent "aggressions and their consequences".

[42] The Gulf Cooperation Council and Arab League nations met for three summits in Mecca, which concluded on calling for Iran to stop "interfering in the internal affairs" of its neighbors and denounced Tehran's "threat to maritime security".