An oil tanker sustained “minor damage” after four US missiles targeted the vessel, Iranian state media reported Saturday. The missiles targeted the vessel off Iran’s Kharg Island amid fighting between the United States and Iran that continued to threaten commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf.
Iranian media said the tanker was hit while it was operating near Kharg Island, a key Iranian oil export terminal. The reports did not immediately identify the vessel or give details of its cargo, crew or the extent of the damage.
No casualties or oil spill were reported from the incident.
There was no immediate comment from US officials who confirmed the reported missile attack. The circumstances of the attack could not be independently confirmed.
Kharg Island is a central focus of the conflict because of its importance to Iran’s oil exports. US forces have struck in the area before, while commercial vessel attacks have raised fears over the safety of shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
The new report comes as military contacts have resumed between Washington and Tehran and threats to energy markets mount. Recent attacks and disruptions in and around the strategic waterway have increased oil prices and reduced commercial traffic.
