Last month two oil tankers were targeted in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz, with the United States and some of its allies immediately accusing Iran of being behind the attacks. Tehran has strongly denied the allegations and urged to stop “warmongering”.
Saudi Arabia has moved to boost security measures in its territorial waters in the wake of recent “sabotage attacks” on several oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman in May-June, the country's Energy Minister Khalid Al Falih told reporters on Monday.
Previously, Falih called for a “swift and decisive response to the threat against energy supplies… created by the recent terrorist acts in the Arabian Gulf”.
The decision comes a few days after the UN Security Council member states condemned the attacks on oil tankers as a serious threat to international maritime navigation and international security.
On 13 June, two oil tankers – Kokuka Courageous, registered in Panama, and Marshall Islands-flagged Front Altair, owned by Norway's Frontline – were attacked in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway linking Middle East crude producers to key world markets.
Multiple media reports suggested that the vessels were exposed to torpedoes, which caused blasts and a fire on at least one of them. Shortly after the incident, the United States accused Iran of having orchestrated the attacks, which, in turn, prompted US Central Command to send the US Navy…
