Iranian attack damages US-linked Swedish tanker in Persian Gulf

A tanker belonging to the Swedish company Stena Bulk was damaged in an attack by Iranian armed forces while docked at the Port of Bahrain on March 2, according to SVT Television.

The vessel, Stena Imperative, is part of the U.S. Maritime Administration’s Tanker Security Program and one of ten tankers involved in the U.S. military’s fuel supply operations. Security sources reported that the tanker was struck by two missiles, causing a fire that has since been extinguished. All crew members were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported.

“Several ships were hit. However, it is not yet clear whether they were attacked by drones, missiles, or something else,” Stena Bulk CEO Erik Hånell told SVT.

Hans Liwång, a professor of defence systems, said the attack highlights “an increased risk if you have a connection to the USA.”

There are reports of damage to the vessel, though the full extent is not yet clear. 

By Sabina Mammadli