DUBAI (REUTERS) - An Iranian-owned oil tanker was struck by two missiles off the Saudi port of Jeddah on Friday (Oct 11), Iranian state television reported, quoting the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) which owns the vessel.
The Sabiti tanker was set ablaze and suffered heavy damage and was leaking crude about 95km from Jeddah, according to Iranian media.
The alleged attack is the latest incident involving oil tankers in the Red Sea and Gulf region, and is likely to ratchet up tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
The US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, which operates in the region, said it was aware of media reports about the tanker, but did not have any further information at this time.
There was no immediate comment from Saudi Arabia.
Iran said it will change the route of its Sabiti oil tanker, Iran’s Students News Agency ISNA reported.
“It is still in the Red Sea but its route will change... No help was offered to assist by any country,” an official from the National Iranian Tanker Company said, according to ISNA.
ISNA cited a source saying the vessel was struck in a “terrorist” attack. Iran’s state television reported that two of its tanks were damaged.
Tensions are already high in the Red Sea shipping area, which links the Indian Ocean with the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal.
It follows strikes on key Saudi oil installations in September and attacks on tankers in the Gulf area in May and June. The United States has blamed Iran, which denied any role.
Oil prices jumped 2 per cent after reports of the tanker explosion, with benchmark Brent and US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rising more than US$1 a barrel.
A NIOC statement, carried by Iranian media, identified the ship as a Suezmax vessel after initial reports had identified it as the Sinopa, another Suezmax ship.
Refinitiv ship tracking data gave the Sabiti’s last reported position on Aug 14 as off the southern coast of Iran in the Gulf. It said the Sinopa was in the Red Sea, according the latest data updated on Wednesday.
Iran’s Nour news agency, which is close to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, said the crew was safe.
Attacks on Saudi oil sites in the east of the kingdom on Sept 14 shut down 5.7 million barrels per day of production, about half of Saudi output and roughly 5 per cent of global supply. Output has since been restored.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group claimed responsibility for those attacks, but a US official said they originated from south-western Iran. Riyadh blamed Teheran but Iran denied any role.
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/...owned-oil-tanker-on-fire-near-saudi-port-city
The Sabiti tanker was set ablaze and suffered heavy damage and was leaking crude about 95km from Jeddah, according to Iranian media.
The alleged attack is the latest incident involving oil tankers in the Red Sea and Gulf region, and is likely to ratchet up tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
The US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, which operates in the region, said it was aware of media reports about the tanker, but did not have any further information at this time.
There was no immediate comment from Saudi Arabia.
Iran said it will change the route of its Sabiti oil tanker, Iran’s Students News Agency ISNA reported.
“It is still in the Red Sea but its route will change... No help was offered to assist by any country,” an official from the National Iranian Tanker Company said, according to ISNA.
ISNA cited a source saying the vessel was struck in a “terrorist” attack. Iran’s state television reported that two of its tanks were damaged.
Tensions are already high in the Red Sea shipping area, which links the Indian Ocean with the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal.
It follows strikes on key Saudi oil installations in September and attacks on tankers in the Gulf area in May and June. The United States has blamed Iran, which denied any role.
Oil prices jumped 2 per cent after reports of the tanker explosion, with benchmark Brent and US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rising more than US$1 a barrel.
A NIOC statement, carried by Iranian media, identified the ship as a Suezmax vessel after initial reports had identified it as the Sinopa, another Suezmax ship.
Refinitiv ship tracking data gave the Sabiti’s last reported position on Aug 14 as off the southern coast of Iran in the Gulf. It said the Sinopa was in the Red Sea, according the latest data updated on Wednesday.
Iran’s Nour news agency, which is close to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, said the crew was safe.
Attacks on Saudi oil sites in the east of the kingdom on Sept 14 shut down 5.7 million barrels per day of production, about half of Saudi output and roughly 5 per cent of global supply. Output has since been restored.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group claimed responsibility for those attacks, but a US official said they originated from south-western Iran. Riyadh blamed Teheran but Iran denied any role.
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/...owned-oil-tanker-on-fire-near-saudi-port-city
