US security adviser John Bolton said it was “almost certain” that Iran was behind the recent attack on ships off the coast of the UAE, adding that the absence of new attacks from Tehran was proof of the success of US deterrence policy.

The UAE Foreign Ministry revealed in mid-January that four civilian commercial cargo ships from several nationalities were subjected to sabotage operations near the state’s territorial waters in the Gulf of Oman, towards the east coast near the Emirate of Fujairah and near the territorial waters and in the UAE’s economic waters.

“The four ships were attacked using naval mines, almost certainly from Iran,” Bolton said.

“Our goal is to make clear to Iran and its arms that this kind of activity could lead to a very strong response from the United States,” Bolton said in a meeting with reporters at the US embassy in Abu Dhabi.