An Iranian oil tanker, identified as Sabiti, was hit by two missiles on October 11th, 2019, according to state media reports. The explosion took place in the red sea, off the coast of Saudi Arabia, where previous confrontations with Iran have taken place. Although Iran reported that crew members are safe and the ship is stable, resulting oil spillage poses financial and environmental threats. In addition to polluting waters, the incident has caused Brent oil prices to rise over 2%, reaching $60.40 a barrel.
The circumstances of the attack remain unclear, with conflicting reports about the exact narrative, and no country or organization having stepped forward to claim responsibility for it. Conflict has been rising in the Persian Gulf since President Trump pulled the United States out of the nuclear deal with Iran last year, and has worsened with recent attacks on Saudi oil installations. Regardless of the precise circumstances of the attack, it will amplify tensions among Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the US.
