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Two Gulf Tankers Attacked, Sailor Killed as Oil Prices JumpWorld
One sailor is dead and two are missing after missile strikes on two tankers in the Gulf, in an attack that pushed Brent crude above $72 a barrel.
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Two oil tankers were attacked in the Gulf on Friday, killing one sailor and leaving two others missing, in an escalation that sent oil prices higher and put regional forces on alert.
According to Iranian state media, the Greek-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Velos Sapphire was hit by a missile and caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz. One crew member was killed, two are missing and two were injured. The crew of 23 abandoned ship, and the naval force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps rescued most of them.
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About four hours later, a second tanker, the Panama-flagged Talara, was also hit. No injuries were reported aboard the second vessel. The attacks have not been claimed by anyone, and the Iranian government has condemned them and called for a thorough investigation.
The incident was confirmed by maritime security sources, which reported that the Velos Sapphire was struck while sailing towards Bahrain and later reached the Bahraini port of Khalifa Bin Salman after the fire was brought under control.
Oil prices jumped after the attacks, with Brent crude rising above 72 dollars a barrel. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes, and any disruption there is watched closely by energy markets around the world.
US President Donald Trump said the United States was closely monitoring the situation and was ready to respond if necessary. A US military spokesperson gave the same message, saying forces in the region were watching developments and prepared to act. Iran’s foreign minister said his country would not hesitate to take defensive measures if necessary, and the Iranian armed forces have been put on alert.
The attacks come at a time of heightened tension in the region, with the United States building up its military presence and pressing Iran to reach an agreement. The two countries have been locked in a standoff over Iran’s nuclear programme and its regional activities.
Investigations into who carried out the attacks are continuing. Until responsibility is established, shipping companies and insurers will be watching the Gulf closely, and the safety of crews passing through one of the world’s busiest waterways remains the immediate concern.
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