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This alleged attack comes after a series of incidents in the Gulf and the Arabian Sea against Saudi and Emirati tankers and ships (illustrative image). GIUSEPPE CACACE / AFP

According to the owner of the Iranian tanker, the ship was hit by two alleged missile strikes. What to fear a renewed tension between Tehran and Riyadh.

According to a statement from the Iranian National Tanker Company (NITC), the Iranian oil tanker Sabiti was hit on Friday (October 11th) by two explosions in the Red Sea 95 kilometers from the Saudi port of Jeddah. Explosions " probably caused by missile strikes ". This alleged attack occurred at 5am. The missiles reportedly hit the two main tankers of the oil tanker causing extensive damage and resulting in an oil spill in the Red Sea. But the crew is safe and the ship is under control, the statement added.

This is the first time that an Iranian oil tanker would be the target of an attack in the Red Sea, explains our correspondent in Tehran, Siavosh Ghazi . It comes after a series of incidents in the Gulf and the Arabian Sea against Saudi and Emirati tankers and ships. Four ships were attacked in an Emirati port in June. A month later, two other tankers were hit by missiles in the Arabian Sea. Each time, Saudi Arabia and the United States accused Iran of being behind these attacks, which Tehran denied.

Above all, this attack against an Iranian tanker comes after the one on September 14th against oil installations of Saudi Arabia. Although claimed by the Houthi rebels of Yemen, Riyadh and Washington had accused Iran of being behind . Since the tension is at its height between Iran and Saudi Arabia.