Following US strikes on five Iranian-owned or Iranian-linked tankers, Iran has issued a warning to commercial tanker crews in Bahrain and Kuwait, telling them to abandon their vessels amid a sharp escalation of tensions in the Gulf.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy issued what Iranian media described as an “urgent warning”, reportedly in response to recent US attacks on Iranian tankers.
According to the warning, all tanker crews in Bahraini and Kuwaiti ports have been instructed to immediately leave their vessels, whether the ships are at anchor or alongside a berth. The IRGC Navy said the tankers could be targeted.
Both Kuwait and Bahrain host US military bases and have faced repeated Iranian attacks since the war with the US began at the end of February.
The latest threat to commercial tankers comes after US forces struck five Iranian-owned or linked vessels. US Central Command said the attacks “destroyed the vessels” after their crews had been ordered to abandon ship.
Among the vessels targeted was the Iranian-flagged NITC VLCC Derya, which was attacked near Kharg Island. US forces also opened fire on four vessels in the Gulf of Oman: the Aframax tankers Kaviz and Riesco, the oil/product tanker Charminar, and the LPG carrier Horizon 1.
Video released by US Central Command showed four of the vessels being struck toward the stern. The footage of Riesco showed fires burning across its deck and around the accommodation block.
The strikes against the Iranian-linked tankers followed two attacks by the IRGC on a US warship, both of which US Central Command said had failed.
The security situation for commercial shipping in the region has deteriorated significantly in recent weeks. The US has now struck eight Iranian-owned or Iranian-linked tankers, while Iran has attacked at least four commercial tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
Among the vessels hit was the Bahri VLCC Sidr, an attack that resulted in the deaths of two Filipino seafarers. The Sinokor VLCC Senegal Prosperity was also attacked on 30 August, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel as it began listing.
The latest Iranian warning adds further pressure on commercial shipping operating in and around the Gulf, with tanker crews and operators facing an increasingly volatile security environment.
