Tanker hit at sea about 7.4 km from Kharg Island; crew evacuation underway
No casualties reported; explosions also heard in Jask
A small Iranian oil tanker was struck by a US missile near Kharg Island, a key hub for Iran's crude oil exports, local reports said. Kharg Island houses facilities that handle the bulk of Iran's total crude exports. If the strike is confirmed, it is likely to heighten tensions surrounding the country's oil export infrastructure.
According to Iran's Tasnim News Agency, a US missile struck a small Iranian oil tanker Tuesday night (local time). The tanker was at sea about 4 nautical miles (roughly 7.4 kilometers) from Kharg Island. The agency said the tanker was struck by a projectile fired by US forces near an anchorage off the island.
"Fortunately, there were no casualties, and crew members aboard the tanker are currently being evacuated," a local source said. Authorities are investigating the extent of the damage and the exact circumstances of the incident, with further details to be released later.
Earlier, Iran's Mehr News Agency reported that several explosions were heard on Kharg Island, and that blasts were also heard in Jask, in the southern province of Hormozgan. However, the cause of the explosions and any connection to the tanker strike have not yet been confirmed.
Kharg Island is a strategic hub where the bulk of Iran's crude oil export infrastructure is concentrated. Since most of the country's crude exports pass through the island en route to overseas markets, military tension in and around the island and its surrounding waters could raise concerns about disruptions to oil exports. Local reports have recently noted a series of unexplained explosions heard on Kharg Island.
The claim of the tanker strike is based on reports from Iranian media. Independent confirmation of whether US forces carried out the attack, along with the specific extent of any damage, has not yet been obtained.
sjy@heraldcorp.com
