A drone strike on a fully loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker off the coast of Dubai has sharply escalated tensions in the Gulf, with the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation blaming Iran for the attack, as Donald Trump issued fresh warnings of sweeping military action against Tehran’s energy infrastructure if the conflict deepens.
All 24 crew members aboard the Kuwaiti tanker “Al-Salmi” are safe after a fire triggered by the strike was brought under control, authorities in Dubai confirmed. The vessel was fully loaded with crude at the time, prompting early concerns over a possible oil spill.
According to the CNN website, the UK Maritime Trade Operations said the vessel was struck roughly 31 nautical miles northwest of Dubai, within waters under its regional monitoring. Assessment teams are currently on site, as authorities in Dubai review the extent of the damage and the overall situation.
According to the Independent website, the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation has accused Iran of attacking off the coast of Dubai, according to the Kuwait News Agency.
Warning of escalation, the White House said on Monday(March 30) that the United States has capabilities beyond Iran’s “wildest imagination” if peace talks fail.
Donald Trump’s warning came after he said the US could “conclude our lovely ‘stay’ in Iran” by “obliterating” Kharg Island and other major energy facilities if no agreement is reached to end the conflict.
He said Washington was engaged in “serious discussions” with Tehran to end the conflict, but Iranian officials have repeatedly denied any direct negotiations are taking place.
As tensions escalate, thousands of US troops are being deployed to the region following Donald Trump’s threat of a potential invasion of Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf. This strategic hub handles nearly 90 per cent of Iran’s oil exports.
On Monday, oil prices moved higher, with US crude closing above the $100 per barrel mark for the first time since July 2022.
Source Name : Economic Times