Iran strikes fully loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker off Dubai coast

Iran launched an attack on a fully loaded Kuwaiti crude oil tanker anchored off Dubai early on Tuesday, causing a fire and damaging the vessel’s hull. This incident is the latest in a series of strikes on merchant ships in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions involving the US and Israel against Iran.

Dubai authorities reported that a drone strike on the Al Salmi tanker caused a fire onboard. The blaze was extinguished early on Tuesday, hours after the attack was initially reported, and officials confirmed there was no oil leak.

The assault occurred shortly after US President Donald Trump warned that the United States would destroy Iran’s energy infrastructure if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict, which has lasted for over a month, has spread across the Middle East, resulting in thousands of casualties, disruptions to energy supplies, and concerns over global economic stability.

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) stated that the Al Salmi tanker was hit in an Iranian attack while anchored at Dubai port in the United Arab Emirates, resulting in fire and damage to the ship.

Maritime firefighting teams in Dubai successfully extinguished the fire caused by the drone strike. Authorities confirmed that all 24 crew members aboard the tanker are safe and no injuries were reported. Assessment of the situation is ongoing.

Following news of the attack, crude oil prices briefly surged. The Al Salmi tanker, capable of carrying about two million barrels of oil valued at over $200 million, was reported by Kuwait’s state news agency to have been targeted. Prices later eased slightly after reports indicated that Trump expressed willingness to end the conflict even if the Strait of Hormuz remained closed, stating that military action was not his immediate priority.

Brent crude prices are on track for a 59% increase in March, marking the largest monthly rise on record, driven by the war in the Middle East. The surge in oil and fuel costs is beginning to affect US household finances and poses a political challenge for Trump and the Republican Party ahead of the November midterm elections, despite their commitments to reduce energy prices and increase US oil and gas production.

Data from industry trackers show that the tanker was carrying two million barrels of oil sourced from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, with its destination listed as Qingdao, China. Attacks from both sides in the conflict continue unabated, raising fears of a broader confrontation.

Meanwhile, thousands of soldiers from the US Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division have arrived in the Middle East as reinforcements, potentially expanding US military options inside Iranian territory. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump aims to reach an agreement with Tehran before the 6 April deadline he recently set, following an earlier extension for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that handles about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

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