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VOA – Two oil tankers were damaged in attacks Thursday in the Gulf of Oman, a strategic sea lane off the coast of Iran.
The Norwegian Maritime Authority said three explosions were reported on the Norwegian-owned tanker Front Altair after a suspected attack on the Singapore-owned ship the Kokuka Courageous.
The U.S. Navy’s Bahrain-based U.S. Fifth Fleet said it is providing assistance after receiving distress calls from both tankers about an hour apart.
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported Iran’s navy rescued 44 crew members from the tankers, and that both vessels were on fire.
There was no immediate explanation on what type of weapon could have damaged the vessels.
The Gulf of Oman is near the strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway that serves as a vital shipping lane for crude oil.
Global oil prices jumped four percent higher to more than $62 a barrel after the suspected attacks.
Last month, the United States accused Iran of using mines to attack four oil tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.
Iran denied involvement.
Thursday’s suspected attacks occurred amid heightened tensions in the region due to a dispute between the U.S. and Iran over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.
