Two supertankers loaded with Saudi crude were hit in rapid succession by projectiles overnight as they tried to navigate the Strait of Hormuz, maritime security analysts said.
The vessels, both carrying 2 million barrels of oil from Saudi Arabia’s Juaymah terminal, came under fire while moving close to Oman’s coastline, according to tracking firms Kpler and Marist. Analysts said that stretch has increasingly been used by ships seeking to avoid Iran’s asserted control over the strategic waterway.
“The near-simultaneous incidents represent a further escalation in the threat environment within the Omani corridor,” Marist warned.
Marist said the Saudi-flagged Very Large Crude Carrier Sidr was struck first as it attempted the crossing. Minutes later, the Liberian-flagged VLCC Senegal Prosperity was hit by three projectiles.
No injuries were reported, and all crew members on both tankers were said to be safe.
Commercial ships have been moving through the Strait of Hormuz at night near the Omani coast, often under US escort, a practice that has angered Iran. Tehran has repeatedly targeted vessels in the area with missiles and drones, according to maritime analysts.
The renewed violence in one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints quickly rattled energy markets. Crude futures climbed more than 2% Tuesday, while Brent, the global benchmark, rose to $92 a barrel.
Iran again asserted its claim over the Strait amid the latest exchange of strikes with the United States. Still, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tuesday that Tehran would be prepared to resume talks with Washington and work toward a peace agreement.
Pezeshkian, who was attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit, said Iran would “immediately take reciprocal action” if the US agreed to return to the terms of June’s memorandum of understanding.
President Trump, however, has rejected going back to the terms of the memorandum, with the US opting to inflict major economic pains on Iran until the regime buckles and surrenders.
Trump also warned that the US would hit Iran “hard” over its latest attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and against US allies in the region.
With Post Wires
