Iranian Underwater Drone Hits US-Owned Oil Tanker in the Gulf, One Dead

Iranian Underwater Drone Hits US-Owned Oil Tanker in the Gulf, One Dead

At least one person was killed and 38 crew members were rescued after two foreign oil tankers were set ablaze in the Persian Gulf following an attack in Iraq’s territorial waters, according to maritime reports and officials monitoring the region.

Iran claimed responsibility for the incident, with state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reporting that an underwater drone attack had struck the two vessels. The ships involved were the Maltese-flagged Zefyros and the Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu.

The Safesea Vishnu is owned by U.S.-based Safesea Transport Inc., while the owner of Zefyros is a shipping company based in Greece. Earlier media reports suggested that a boat packed with explosives may also have been used in the assault, though investigations are still ongoing.

The attack comes amid rising tensions linked to the ongoing war involving Iran, the United States and Israel, which has increasingly affected maritime security in the Gulf region.

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Meanwhile, maritime authorities reported that at least three additional commercial vessels were hit by unidentified projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes. According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, one vessel was struck off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, another caught fire north of Oman and had to be evacuated, while a third ship was damaged northwest of Dubai.

Iran had earlier warned it could target ships attempting to pass through the strategic waterway. The strait, located between Iran and Oman, connects the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea and handles a major share of the world’s energy shipments.

Despite the escalating threats, limited shipping traffic has continued through the route. U.S. officials said American forces have already destroyed 16 Iranian vessels believed to be laying naval mines in the strait.

The Strait of Hormuz is considered one of the most strategically important waterways in the world. Roughly 13 million barrels of oil — about 30 percent of global seaborne oil shipments — normally pass through the channel each day. Any disruption to the route could severely impact energy exports from countries such as Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Analysts warn that prolonged disruption in the strait could trigger sharp increases in global oil prices and affect major economies including China, India and Japan, which depend heavily on crude imports through the corridor. Even a temporary disruption in early 2025 had caused oil prices to rise by about six percent, highlighting the waterway’s global economic significance.