Iran attacked two fuel tankers off the coast of Iraq and a Kuwaiti oil tanker in a Dubai port, escalating maritime tensions in the Persian Gulf. The attacks have killed at least one person, while oil prices surged above $100 per barrel.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for the attack on the Safesea Vishnu, asserting it was a US-owned tanker, according to the Guards. They also admitted to attacking a Thai-flagged vessel, as reported by the Revolutionary Guards. The attacks targeted two foreign tankers loaded with Iraqi fuel oil in Iraqi waters, with 25 crew members evacuated and safe, according to Farhan al-Fartousi, director general of Iraq's general company for Ports. However, major media reports indicate that one person was killed in the attack on two fuel tankers off Iraq, creating a contradiction over casualties. The Kuwaiti oil tanker was attacked by Iran in a Dubai port, with no injuries, according to a KPC statement.
Iran has threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz and target any ship serving the US or Israel, according to an Iranian military spokesperson. At least 14 to 17 commercial ships have been attacked in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began, according to multiple media reports. The Strait of Hormuz was closed again by Iran due to a US blockade of Iranian ports, according to nine major media sources. An oil tanker was fired upon by two Iranian Revolutionary Guard patrol boats near the Strait of Hormuz, but no damage or injuries were reported, according to the UKMTO.
A deal to end the war with Iran is near, but threatened 'total obliteration' of Iranian energy infrastructure if not.
A port in Salalah, Oman was attacked, causing a fuel storage fire with no injuries, according to Ambrey and Reuters. Iran's president Pezeshkian promised to investigate the attack on the Oman port, as reported by Reuters.
An Iranian missile was shot down by NATO after entering Turkish airspace, according to Sky News. Spain closed its airspace to US military flights participating in the Iran war, according to El País citing military sources.
Oil prices surged above $100 per barrel, with WTI reaching $102.88 and Brent $112.78, according to CNN.
The work is a 'real risk' and that his crew has shrunk from 27 to 17 due to fear.
The fires on tankers lead to emissions of climate-affecting greenhouse gases and environmental toxins, according to nine major media sources.
A fuel tanker truck exploded under the Bridge of the Americas in Panama, killing one and injuring two, according to the Panama fire brigade. It remains unclear whether this incident is connected to the Iran conflict or a separate event.
According to The Independent - Main, Captain Rahman Al-Jubouri described the work as a 'real risk' and noted that his crew has shrunk from 27 to 17 due to fear. In a social media post, Donald Trump stated that a deal to end the war with Iran is near, but threatened 'total obliteration' of Iranian energy infrastructure if not. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a press conference that Trump might be interested in asking Arab countries to pay for the Iran war costs.
The escalation has raised concerns about the safety of maritime routes and the potential for broader conflict. The US response to Iran's threats and attacks on shipping remains unclear. The exact number of total tankers attacked and casualties is still unknown. The status of the Strait of Hormuz is uncertain, with conflicting reports on whether it is closed or still navigable.