Tanker Ship Attack in Persian Gulf: Iraq Halts Oil Port Operations
Iraq has halted all operations at its oil terminals following attacks on two tanker ships in the Arabian Gulf. The incident has heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, which has become increasingly volatile due to the Iran-related conflict.
According to CNN, Farhan al-Fartousi, Director General of Iraq’s Port Authority, stated that all activities at the country’s oil terminals have been completely suspended. However, he emphasised that commercial ports remain operational to maintain non-energy trade activities.
“Oil terminal operations in Iraq are completely halted, whilst commercial ports continue to operate,” al-Fartousi told the Iraqi News Agency on Thursday (12 March).
The latest attack occurred when an oil tanker caught fire in the Gulf waters after allegedly being struck by an Iranian naval drone. The incident killed one crew member and triggered a large-scale rescue operation. A total of 38 crew members were successfully rescued from the burning vessel.
The deceased was identified as an Indian national working on the tanker Safesea Vishnu. In an official statement on social media platform X, the Indian embassy stated that 15 other crew members, also Indian nationals, had been successfully evacuated and moved to a safe location. The embassy also stated it would continue coordinating with Iraqi authorities regarding the situation’s development.
Since Wednesday, at least six attacks on ships have been reported in the Gulf as the Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of conflict with Iran.
Iraq’s state-owned oil marketing company, the State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO), assessed that the incident could have serious implications for national energy security.
According to SOMO, attacks on tankers threaten not only maritime safety but could also shake Iraq’s economic stability, given the country’s heavy dependence on oil exports.
The escalating tensions in the Gulf region have now placed international shipping routes on high alert, whilst energy-producing nations in the region are working to secure their vital infrastructure.