Iran: 2 missiles hit oil tanker off Saudi coast
Iranian officials say two missiles have struck an
Iranian tanker traveling through the Red Sea off the coast of Saudi Arabia.
This is the latest incident in the region amid
months of heightened tensions between Tehran and the U.S. There was no
immediate word from Saudi Arabia on the reported attack on Friday near the Red
Sea port city of Jiddah.
Benchmark Brent crude oil rose over 2% in trading
Friday to reach some $60.40 a barrel.
The reported attack comes after the U.S. has alleged
that in past months Iran attacked oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, at the
mouth of the Persian Gulf, something denied by Tehran.
Iran’s state-run news agency says two rockets struck
an Iranian oil tanker off the coast of Saudi Arabia.
IRNA quoted a statement from Iran’s national oil
tanker firm as saying an attack targeted a tanker it identified as the Sabity.
It said the attack happened early on Friday morning.
There was no immediate response from Saudi Arabia.
The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, which oversees the Mideast, says it was aware of the
incident, but declined to immediately comment further.
The reported explosion comes after the U.S. alleges
Iran attacked oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, something denied by
Tehran.
Iran’s state-run news agency and other media say an
explosion has struck an Iranian oil tanker off the coast of Saudi Arabia.
There was no immediate acknowledgement from the
kingdom of this amid heightened tensions across the Middle East.
The state-run IRNA news agency and other Iranian
media relied on an online report, while the semi-official ISNA news agency quoted
an anonymous source with direct knowledge.
All reports said the explosion happened on Friday
off the coast of Jiddah on the Red Sea.
The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, which oversees the
region, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The reported explosion comes after the U.S. has
alleged that Iran attacked oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, something
denied by Tehran.
