Saudi Arabia accused Iran of attacking their oil tanker, causing the deaths of two Filipino crew members. Iran denied the accusation, claiming the vessel was sailing on an unauthorized route and struck a sea mine.
On Wednesday, 2 Sep 2026 GMT+7, Bahri, Saudi Arabia's national shipping company, confirmed that their large oil tanker named 'Sidr' was attacked by an unknown explosive device north of the Musandam Peninsula in Oman while passing through the Strait of Hormuz on the night of Monday, 31 Aug 2026 GMT+7.
Bahri blamed Iran for the attack, which resulted in the deaths of two Filipino crew members. Around the same time, a South Korean oil tanker named 'Senegal Prosperity' was also attacked east of Musandam. Both ships were transporting about 2 million barrels of Saudi crude oil each.
Iran denied Saudi Arabia's allegations. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed both oil tankers attempted to use a shipping route advised by the U.S. military, which Iran does not authorize, causing them to strike sea mines and catch fire.
This incident occurred amid renewed clashes between the U.S. and Iran, with the U.S. launching airstrikes on Iranian territory while Iran retaliated by firing missiles and sending drones to attack U.S. bases in neighboring Arab countries.
Iran's Ministry of Health reported that the U.S. attacks killed at least 18 people and injured 108 others.
The Strait of Hormuz, a transit route for about one-fifth of the world's oil and natural gas, remains highly fragile and dangerous due to the prolonged conflict.
Although the U.S. insists that the shipping lanes remain open and that it is ensuring the safety of commercial vessels, the latest attacks have further escalated tensions over energy security and international maritime navigation.
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Source:bbc