Iranian Underwater Drones Attack Two Oil Tankers in Iraqi Waters, One Crew Member Killed

Iran has launched an attack on two oil tankers in Iraqi waters, with one crew member reported killed as a result.

According to CNN International on Thursday, 12 March 2026, Farhan al-Fartousi, Director General of the Iraqi Port Authority, stated that 38 crew members were successfully rescued. All survivors were foreign nationals.

Iran has claimed responsibility for the attack on the two oil tankers. A report from Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB stated that underwater drone strikes destroyed two oil tankers in the Persian Gulf on Wednesday, 11 March evening.

Previously, an Iraqi security source in Basra told CNN that an Iranian vessel equipped with explosives allegedly attacked both tankers, with investigations ongoing.

The attack occurred in Iraqi territorial waters, according to Saad Maan, spokesman for the Iraqi joint operations command. He described the attack as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and stated that the country had the right to take legal action.

Video footage verified by CNN showed both tankers ablaze, with fire spreading across surrounding waters. Ship tracking data indicated the vessels were docked alongside each other when the fires began.

The burning vessels were the Maltese-flagged Zefyros and the Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu.

The registered owner of Safesea Vishnu is US-based company Safesea Transport Inc., whilst Zefyros is owned by a Greek-based company.