An Iranian oil tanker traveling in the Red Sea experienced a series of explosions early Friday after it was targeted by an unknown assailant in a possible missile strike, according to state media.
The New York Times reported that Iranian state television first revealed the tanker’s damage just after midnight EDT on Friday, which resulted in some of the vessel’s oil spilling into the sea.
{mosads}The exact cause of the attack was reportedly unclear Friday, with conflicting reports over whether missiles were involved and the National Iranian Oil Company reportedly dismissing the idea the ship was hit by projectiles entirely.
The attack reportedly occurred about 60 miles off the coast of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which left open the possibility of Iranian forces blaming the attack on the Saudi government or Saudi-aligned forces.
Iranian and Saudi forces have been at odds for months, with Iran being blamed for a recent drone attack that temporarily disabled nearly half of Saudi Arabia’s oil production.
Iran has also been blamed for damage to two other oil tankers in the region as well as the downing of a U.S. surveillance drone earlier this year.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have been high for months, with President Trump reportedly calling off a military strike on the country after the downing of the drone due to concerns about loss of life.