TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - The Latest on developments in the Persian Gulf (all times local):
2:50 p.m.
Iranian officials say two missiles have struck an Iranian tanker traveling through the Red Sea off the coast of Saudi Arabia.
This is the latest incident in the region amid months of heightened tensions between Tehran and the U.S. There was no immediate word from Saudi Arabia on the reported attack on Friday near the Red Sea port city of Jiddah.
Benchmark Brent crude oil rose over 2% in trading Friday to reach some $60.40 a barrel.
The reported attack comes after the U.S. has alleged that in past months Iran attacked oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, something denied by Tehran.
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10:30 a.m.
Iran’s state-run news agency says two rockets struck an Iranian oil tanker off the coast of Saudi Arabia.
IRNA quoted a statement from Iran’s national oil tanker firm as saying an attack targeted a tanker it identified as the Sabity.
It said the attack happened early on Friday morning.
There was no immediate response from Saudi Arabia. The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, which oversees the Mideast, says it was aware of the incident, but declined to immediately comment further.
The reported explosion comes after the U.S. alleges Iran attacked oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, something denied by Tehran.
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10 a.m.
Iran’s state-run news agency and other media say an explosion has struck an Iranian oil tanker off the coast of Saudi Arabia.
There was no immediate acknowledgement from the kingdom of this amid heightened tensions across the Middle East.
The state-run IRNA news agency and other Iranian media relied on an online report, while the semi-official ISNA news agency quoted an anonymous source with direct knowledge.
All reports said the explosion happened on Friday off the coast of Jiddah on the Red Sea.
The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, which oversees the region, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The reported explosion comes after the U.S. has alleged that Iran attacked oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, something denied by Tehran.
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