The video, along with accusations by US officials, add to mounting suspicions among independent analysts and intelligence experts that Iran launched the attack as a warning to Washington and others attempting to pressure it over its nuclear programme, conventional weaponry and support for militant groups throughout the Middle East.

Tehran has strenuously denied being responsible for the incident and blamed the US of waging an “economic war”.

“Iran categorically rejects the US unfounded claim with regard to 13 June oil tanker incidents, and condemns it in the strongest possible terms,” the Iranian mission to the United Nations said in a statement released on Friday.

“It seems that for Mr Pompeo and other US government officials, the easiest and most convenient way is to blame Iran for this suspicious and unfortunate tanker incident,” Abbas Mousavi, spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry, told reporters in Tehran.

The black-and-white, blurry aerial footage released by the US military appears to show a small Iranian patrol boat approaching a bigger vessel, removing an object from the hull and then moving away again.

The US says the video shows Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, an elite branch of the country’s armed forces, removing an unexploded limpet mine from the side of the Kokuka Courageous tanker, suggesting Iran was trying to remove evidence of its involvement in the attack.

The video was released on Thursday, hours after US secretary of state Mike Pompeo publicly blamed Iran for the attacks.

Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Show all 17 1 /17 Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Iran claims that in this picture released by Iran state TV, their surface-to-air missile is seen as it shoots down a US surveillance drone EPA Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures This photo shows US RQ-4A Global Hawk unmanned surveillance drone. A drone of this model was shot down by Iran on Thursday 21 June AFP/Getty Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures An oil tanker is on fire after it was subject to a suspected attacked at the Gulf of Oman on June 13. The US has blamed Iran for the attack Reuters Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Iran claims that in this picture released by Iran state TV, debris from the downed US drone is seen after it was recovered from Iranian waters AFP/Getty Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Smoke billows from an oil tanker after it was subject to a suspected attacked at the Gulf of Oman on June 13 Reuters Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures US President Trump holds up a signed executive order to increase sanctions on Iran on 24 June AP Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Iranian President Rouhani stated in a televised address that the White House is "afflicted by mental retardation" following the increase in sanctions on 25 June EPA Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures An Iranian navy boat tackles the fire on the Norwegian owned Front Altair oil tanker after it was hit in a suspected attack AFP/Getty Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Iran claims that in this picture released by Iran state TV, debris from the downed US drone is seen after it was recovered from Iranian waters AFP/Getty Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Smoke billows from an oil tanker after it was subject to a suspected attacked at the Gulf of Oman on June 13 Reuters Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures A screenshot from a video released by the US Department of Defense that the US claims to show Iranian removing an unexploded limpet mine form the hull of the Japan-owned ship that was attacked in the Gulf of Oman on June 13 Getty Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures An item reportedly found on the Japan-owned oil tanker that was attacked on June 13 in the Gulf of Oman AFP/Getty Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures A handout photograph from the US Department of Defense shows a composite material that the US claim was left behind on the hull of the Japan-owned oil tanker following the removal of an unexploded limpet mine Getty Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures A view from the cabin of an Iranian navy boat as it tackles the fire on the Norwegian owned Front Altair oil tanker after it was hit in a suspected attack EPA Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Release by US government A picture released by U.S. Central Command shows damage to the hull of the oil tanker Kokuka Courageous. The picture suggests that the ship is 'likely' to have been hit by a mine as the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo moves to blame Iran for the suspected attack Reuters Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Smoke billows from an oil tanker after it was subject to a suspected attacked at the Gulf of Oman on June 13 Reuters Tensions high as Trump approves new Iran sanctions: In pictures Release by US government A picture released by U.S. Central Command shows damage to the hull of the oil tanker Kokuka Courageous. The pictures suggests that the ship is 'likely' to have been hit by a mine as the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo moves to blame Iran for the suspected attack EPA

Mr Pompeo did not provide any evidence to back his claim but said the assessment was based on intelligence.

“Taken as a whole, these unprovoked attacks present a clear threat to international peace and security, a blatant assault on the freedom of navigation and an unacceptable campaign of escalating tension by Iran,” Mr Pompeo said. He rushed out of the briefing room without taking any questions from reporters.

The US military also released photographs and a timeline of the incident early Friday.

The attacks have alarmed regional powers. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), a staunch US ally which has a complicated relationship with Iran, has called the incident a “serious escalation” and called for international action.

“Wisdom is necessary and there is collective responsibility to ensure the prevention of further tension,” the UAE’s minister of state for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, tweeted late on 13 June.

On Friday, Iranian-allied Houthi rebels in Yemen launched drones at the international airport in Abha, Saudi Arabia – the second such attack in two days.

Five drones targeted the airport and the nearby city of Khamis Mushait, Saudi officials said. No casualties were reported in Friday’s attack, but dozens were said to be injured in the previous attack.

The US and its Gulf allies have also accused Iran and its proxies of being behind a 12 May attack on four tankers off the UAE coast as well as 14 May drone strikes on two Saudi oil pumping stations.

Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also appeared to suggest on Twitter that the attack was an operation to discredit Iran and sabotage a historic visit by Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe. Japan’s transport minister Keiichi Ishii has told reporters the country still did not know who was behind the attack, according to the Kyodo news agency.

The president of one of the tanker’s operators, Kokuka Sangyo, said on Friday in Tokyo that the crew saw something hitting the ship and believed it was unlikely the vessel was hit by a mine.

The incident has aggravated a standoff between Iran and the US, re-igniting tensions that escalated after the US introduced new sanctions against the country.

Brent crude futures rose 0.6 per cent to $61.69 per barrel in Asian trade on Friday after gaining 2.2 per cent on Thursday, according to Reuters. At one point, they had surged as much as 4.5 per cent after the attacks.

Whilst both Iran and the US have said they want to avoid war, the US Central Command has said the US “will defend” their interests.

The Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, also said on Wednesday that “Iran will never initiate a war but will give a crushing response to any aggression.”

Japan’s industry minister, Hiroshige Seko, said that the attack will be discussed at a meeting of G20 energy and environment ministers this weekend, while China’s foreign ministry called for all sides to exercise caution. Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China will continue to develop ties with Iran no matter how the situation changes.