Iran destroys two oil tankers hundreds of miles from Strait of Hormuz

Two oil tankers have been struck by explosives off the coast of Iraq in an attack linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, causing both vessels to burst into flames.

The ships, the Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu and Zefyros, were reportedly hit around 1:30 a.m. local time by what authorities described as an “unknown projectile,” according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations.

Officials said the vessels were likely targeted by unmanned explosive boats, similar to drones but operating on water. Iraqi media reported that 38 crew members were rescued, while one person was confirmed dead.

The attack occurred in waters near the southern Iraqi port region. Farhan al-Fartousi, head of the General Company for Ports of Iraq, said the tankers were carrying Iraqi fuel oil when they were struck inside territorial waters.

He confirmed that the attacks caused both vessels to catch fire. In response, Iraq temporarily halted operations at ports involved in oil imports and exports, although container shipping facilities remain open for commercial trade.

Another container vessel was also hit overnight off the coast of the United Arab Emirates and caught fire, though authorities confirmed that all crew members on that ship survived.

The escalation has intensified tensions across the region’s vital maritime routes, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway linking the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean. Roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil shipments passes through the strait, with around 80 oil and gas tankers crossing it daily.

Earlier in the week, the United States said it destroyed ten Iranian boats allegedly deploying naval mines in the shipping corridor. Iran has long asserted control over the waterway and is believed to possess thousands of naval mines that can be deployed from small boats, submarines or disguised civilian vessels.

Following the latest attacks, a spokesperson for Iran’s military command warned that global oil prices could surge dramatically if the regional security situation continues to deteriorate, saying crude could reach $200 per barrel.

The crisis has already rattled energy markets. The International Energy Agency announced a record 400 million-barrel release from strategic reserves in an effort to stabilise oil supplies. The United Kingdom government said it would contribute 13.5 million barrels from its own reserves to the emergency release.

Meanwhile, Brent crude prices rose about 3.5 percent to $90.87 per barrel, though prices remain below the peak levels reached earlier in the week as markets react to the rapidly evolving conflict in the region.