Iran has acknowledged responsibility for the recent attacks on two oil tankers near Iraq, as per various media reports. The head of Iraq’s ports company informed CNN that they successfully rescued 38 crew members from two foreign oil tankers engulfed in flames in the Persian Gulf.
The incident occurred within Iraq’s territorial waters where the tankers were targeted, resulting in at least one fatality. According to US sources, the ongoing conflict has incurred a cost exceeding $11.3 billion in the initial six days.
Furthermore, a separate assault was carried out on fuel tanks in Bahrain early Thursday, contributing to the turmoil in global oil markets and causing Brent crude oil prices to surge above $100 a barrel. Operations at all of Iraq’s oil terminals have been suspended, while commercial ports remain operational.
The attack on the vessels occurred shortly after President Donald Trump’s warning of severe consequences for any disruption to oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for about 20% of the world’s oil. Reports suggest that the tankers were hit by Iranian boats carrying explosives, with the tankers allegedly transporting Iraqi oil.
Farhan al-Fartousi, the director-general of the General Company for Ports of Iraq, stated that one crew member lost their life, and the search for the missing individuals is ongoing. The situation remains tense as further developments unfold in the region.
