Two rockets struck an Iranian oil tanker traveling through the Red Sea off the coast of Saudi Arabia on Friday, according to Iranian officials. It’s the latest incident in the region amid months of heightened tensions between Tehran, Riyadh and the U.S.
Saudi Arabia gave no word on the on the reported attack.
However, the U.S. stated that it has no further information about the attack, except published reports.
Reports reveal route of the Iranian oil tanker
The vessel, formerly named Susangird, was reportedly en route to Syria, according to the UK-based Mirror.
It passed through the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean and one million barrels of oil were on board.
“We believe this may be the Iranian Suezmax tanker SINOPA. She is laden with a million barrels of oil bound for Syria. That’s her regular run. This is the 3rd Iranian tanker in 6 months to be incapacitated in this part of the Red Sea. 1st it was HAPPINESS I and recently, HELM,” Tanker Trackers Inc. tweeted.
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Oil Tanker Twitter Thread[/caption]
Iranian state television said the explosion damaged two storage tanks aboard the unnamed oil tanker and caused an oil leak into the Red Sea.
The vessel belongs to Iran's national oil company (NOIC). It was 97km from the Saudi port city of Jeddah when the incident took place, BBC reported.
No injuries have been reported yet.
Last month, 18 drones and seven cruise missiles hit a major oil field and processing facility in Saudi Arabia, which blamed Iran for the attack.
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Smoke billows out of the stricken oil tanker in the Red Sea[/caption]
On it part, Tehran denied involvement in all the accidents.
The U.S. officials blamed Iran for attacks on six oil tankers in the Gulf in May, June and July.
According to Reuters, the incident may be a “terrorist attack.”
Iran's Fars news agency said technical experts" suspected "terrorist activity".
All of the crew members were safe and uninjured, said reports out of Iran.
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