LONDON/DUBAI: Britain summoned on Monday Iran鈥檚 ambassador to London in response to what it called 鈥渢he unlawful attack鈥� on an Israeli-managed tanker off the coast of Oman last week.

鈥淚ran must immediately cease actions that risk international peace and security,鈥� a government statement said. 鈥淰essels must be allowed to navigate freely in accordance with international law.鈥�

Iran鈥檚 foreign ministry also summoned the British charge d鈥檃ffaires to 鈥減rotest remarks鈥� made by the UK鈥檚 foreign secretary, state news agency IRNA reported.

He was told that 鈥渢hese hasty, contradictory, and baseless remarks are rejected and strongly condemned,鈥� the agency said.

Earlier, Iran said it will respond promptly to any threat against its security, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Monday, as the United States, Israel and Britain blamed Tehran for an attack on an Israeli-managed tanker off the coast of Oman.

鈥淭he Islamic Republic of Iran has no hesitation in protecting its security and national interests and will respond promptly and strongly to any possible adventure,鈥� state television quoted Saeed Khatibzadeh as saying.

It said Khatibzadeh 鈥渟trongly regretted the baseless accusations made by the British Foreign Secretary against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which were repeated by the US Secretary of State in the same context and contained contradictory, false and provocative accusations.鈥�

A British security guard and a Romanian crew member were killed in what the US, Britain and the vessel鈥檚 operator Zodiac Maritime said appeared to be a drone strike.

Analysts said the attack bore all the hallmarks of tit-for-tat exchanges in the 鈥渟hadow war鈥� between Israel and Iran, in which vessels linked to each nation have been targeted in waters around the Gulf.

Israel blamed Iran for the attack, accusations rejected by Tehran, with Iran鈥檚 foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh saying Sunday that Israel 鈥渕ust stop such baseless accusations.鈥�

The US and Britain on Sunday also then blamed Iran for the attack, with Washington vowing an 鈥渁ppropriate response.鈥�