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Iran state news: Iranian tanker explodes near Saudi Arabia’s port city of Jeddah
An Iranian tanker was allegedly struck by an explosion on Friday 60 miles from the Saudi port city of Jeddah, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency. The vessel is owned by Iran’s state-owned National Iranian Oil Co. (NIOC), who identified the tanker as the “Sabiti” after Iranian state media had mistakenly said it was the “Sinopa.”
The tanker appears to be moving in this screenshot from ship tracking website Marine Traffic, shared by TankerTrackers.com.inc on Twitter. (Screengrab)Although ISNA initially reported a fire as a result of the explosion, Iranian news agency IRNA later said that the explosion did not cause a fire.
“None of the crew members were injured at the explosion ... the situation is under control,” the news agency reported.
The US Navy's Fifth Fleet is aware of media reports on the vessel, but said it does not have any further information, a spokesman said on Friday.
Oil prices surged more than two percent in response to the incident.
Iran said that the tanker is still in the Red Sea and that there are plans to change its course. Refinitiv data showed that it was headed for the Arabian Gulf.
source:Reuters
