Greek-Owned Tanker Hit in Persian Gulf

One of two tankers attacked while in Iraqi territorial waters in the Persian Gulf belonged to a Greek-based company. Both vessels caught fire. One person died and 38 crew members were rescued.

According to CNN, the vessels were the Malta-flagged Zefyros, owned by a company based in Greece, and the Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu. Available records identified the American company Safesea Transport Inc as the owner of Safesea Vishnu.

Videos verified by the US network showed the ships burning, with flames spreading across the surrounding sea, apparently because of an oil leak.

Farhan al-Fartousi, director-general of the Iraqi Ports Company, said all those rescued from the two tankers were foreign nationals. He did not provide further details about injuries or the extent of the damage to the vessels.

Iraq's state oil marketing company, SOMO, said the ships were attacked while in a loading zone inside Iraqi territorial waters. Zefyros was preparing to enter Khor al-Zubair port and was carrying condensate for the Basra Gas Company.

Oil-handling ports in the area suspended operations after the attack, according to al-Fartousi.

Iranian state media reported that Iran had claimed responsibility, saying an underwater drone had blown up two tankers in the Persian Gulf. Earlier, a security source in Basra told CNN that an Iranian vessel packed with explosives was believed to have struck the ships. An investigation was under way.

Lieutenant General Saad Maan, head of the press office at Iraq's Joint Operations Command, said the attack had taken place inside the country's territorial waters. He described it as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and said Iraq reserved the right to take legal action.

Earlier attacks on three vessels

The incident followed reports that three vessels had been attacked in the same area.

One of those attacks caused a fire aboard a ship, forcing most of its crew to abandon the vessel for safety.

G7 considers escorts for commercial shipping

Leaders of the G7 countries, the United States, Canada, Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany and France, agreed to examine the option of providing escorts for commercial vessels so that they could navigate freely in the Persian Gulf.

The G7 presidency issued the statement on Wednesday after French president Emmanuel Macron held a telephone call with the group's leaders.

The discussion covered developments in the conflict involving the United States and Israel with Iran, as well as the crisis's effect on rising energy prices.

The statement said a working group had been established to explore the possibility of escorting ships when security conditions allowed. It added that the process would also involve discussions with shipping companies, transport operators and insurers.