An oil tanker caught fire after being struck by an unidentified projectile in the Red Sea on Monday, 63 nautical miles west of the Saudi port of Yanbu, following the near-total halt of Iranian seaborne crude exports.
The entire crew survived and no environmental damage has been reported, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre. British maritime security firm Vanguard Tech said the Saudi-flagged vessel was hit by a missile, though the projectile's origin remains unconfirmed. Iran's foreign ministry separately warned of consequences for countries joining the US economic pressure campaign.
The attack comes after the Iran-backed Houthi rebels declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia in late July, and as Washington prepares to impose its most severe sanctions yet on Tehran.