Iranian oil tanker damaged in explosion near Saudi port
An oil tanker belonging to the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) was damaged by an explosion on Friday, Iranian state news IRNA reported.
The tanker was 60 miles (96 kilometers) from the Saudi port of Jeddah on the Red Sea when the explosion occurred, damaging its structure, IRNA reported. No more details were provided.
Iran’s Press TV also tweeted Friday: “Report: Explosion in #Iranian tanker has set vessel on fire near #Saudi port city of #Jeddah.”
A series of attacks on oil tankers and production facilities in the region has increased tensions in recent months.
In September, Saudi Arabia’s Abqaiq oil processing facility – the largest of its kind in the world – was attacked in a series of drone strikes which halved the country’s production.
Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack, but both Saudi and US investigators claimed “with very high probability” that it was launched from an Iranian base.
It followed attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz in July, including the capture of the UK-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero by Iran. The vessel was eventually released from the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas in late September. CNN
