Source:
https://scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3032545/red-sea-attack-iranian-oil-tanker-hit-suspected-missile Middle East
Red Sea attack: Iranian oil tanker hit by suspected missile strikes near Saudi coast
- Tanker owners said vessel was leaking crude
- Incident follows attacks on other ships in the Gulf
A picture released by Iranian state TV shows the Iranian crude oil tanker Sabiti sailing in the Red Sea. Photo: AFP
Suspected missile strikes hit an Iranian oil tanker off the Saudi coast on Friday, its owner said, the first Iranian vessel targeted since a spate of attacks in the Gulf Washington blamed on Tehran.
The National Iranian Tanker Company, which owns the ship, said the hull of the Sabiti was hit by two separate explosions off the Saudi port of Jeddah, saying they were “probably caused by missile strikes”.
Oil prices surged more than two per cent on the news, which raised fresh supply concerns with tensions still high after last month’s attacks on two Saudi crude facilities.
The International Energy Agency warned against market complacency after the attack, as it noted that a quick recovery of output and fears of a global economic slowdown had already seen prices recover from the September attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure.
The blasts come just weeks after two of Saudi Arabia’s biggest oil installations were hit, wiping out five per cent of global production.
The National Iranian Tanker Company said the hull of the vessel was hit by two separate explosions about 100 kilometres (60 miles) off the Saudi coast.
“All the ship’s crew are safe and the ship is stable too,” NITC said, adding those on board were trying to repair the damage.
A picture released by Iranian state TV shows the Iranian crude oil tanker Sabiti sailing in the Red Sea. Photo: AFP
Iran’s foreign ministry said the tanker was attacked “from a location close to the corridor it was passing, east of the Red Sea,” stopping short of naming Saudi Arabia.
Oil was leaking from the tanker into the Red Sea.
“The responsibility of this incident, including the serious environmental pollution, falls on the perpetrators of this reckless act,” said ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi, adding that investigations are continuing.
According to ship tracking service TankerTrackers, the Sabiti is fully laden with one million barrels and has declared the Gulf as its destination.
According to Iranian state television, the blasts could have been the result of a “terrorist attack.”
Pictures published by the television showed the ship’s deck without any outward signs of damage.
It comes after a spate of still unexplained attacks on shipping in and around the vital seaway to the Gulf involving Iran and Western powers.
Washington accused Tehran of attacking the vessels with mines, something it strongly denied.
There have also been seizures of both Iranian and Western-flagged vessels and twin attacks claimed by Yemeni rebels allied with Iran on key Saudi oil infrastructure.
Both Washington and Riyadh blamed Tehran for those attacks, which wiped out five per cent of global production. Iran again denied any role.
The United States has since formed a naval coalition to escort commercial vessels through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
It has been joined by Australia, Bahrain, Britain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Friday’s incident is the first involving an Iranian ship since the “Happiness 1” broke down at about the same location in early May.
That ship was repaired in Saudi Arabia and held in the kingdom until July 21 when it was released.