Four ships were damaged by explosions on May 12, off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. One of those struck, the Norwegian tanker Andrea Victory, was later pictured with damage to its stern. On Thursday Mr Pompeo accused Iran of being behind the attacks in a bid to increase oil prices.
He claimed the incidents were “efforts by the Iranians to raise the price of crude oil throughout the world”.
Iran was also accused of being behind the provocations earlier this week by National Security Adviser John Bolton, who said the attacks were carried out by naval mines “almost certainly from Iran”.
Mr Bolton added: “There’s no doubt in anybody’s mind in Washington who is responsible for this.
“Who else would you think is doing it? Someone from Nepal?”
However Iran has fiercely denied the allegations of its involvement.
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Abbas Mousavi, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, described Mr Bolton’s claims as “ludicrous”.
He added: “Iran’s strategic patience, vigilance and defensive prowess will defuse mischievous plots by Bolton and other warmongers”.
Of the four oil tankers attacked two were from Saudi Arabia, one from the United Arab Emirates and the fourth from Norway.
The two Saudi vessels suffered “significant damage”.
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Tensions have surged between Iran and both the US and a number of its Arab neighbours over the past year.
In May 2018 President Trump withdrew the US from the Iran nuclear deal, designed to prevent the development of an Iranian nuclear weapon.
He argued Iran was violating the spirit of the agreement by continuing to develop ballistic missiles and backing terror groups across the Middle East.
Following this US sanctions were reimposed in two main waves.
The other signatories, including the UK, opposed the move and have urged Iran to continue adhering to the deal.