DUBAI (Reuters) – A merchant ship owned by an Israeli company has been attacked off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in the Gulf waters, pro-Iran media and an Israeli television channel said on Tuesday.
Israel’s best-rated Channel 12 quoted anonymous Israeli officials as accusing Iran’s enemy of assault, which it described as a missile. There were no casualties and the ship continued its course, the TV station added.
Two maritime security sources told Reuters that an Israeli ship was hit near the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, resulting in an explosion, but that there were no casualties.
Officials in the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Defense Ministry declined to comment on the incident. An Israeli Ministry of Transport spokesman said he was aware of the reports, but could not confirm them.
There was no immediate confirmation from the UAE.
The incident comes a day after Tehran accused Israel of sabotaging a nuclear site and after Iran and the United States began indirect talks in Vienna on how to revive the world powers’ 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran.
Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen television channel, citing sources, identified the ship as Hyperion.
Refinitiv tracking data showed that the Bahamas-based carrier HYPERION RAY was heading to the port of Fujairah in Kuwait.
The Lebanon-based Unews news agency said the ship was carrying cars and was in the Kuwaiti port of Mina Al Ahmadi 48 hours earlier.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said in an advisory opinion that they were aware of a possible incident near Fujairah and that investigations were ongoing.
Last month, an Iranian container ship was damaged in an attack in the Mediterranean, two weeks after an Israeli-owned ship, MV HELIOS RAY – owned by the same company as Hyperion Ray according to a UN shipping database – was hit by an explosion in the Gulf of Oman.
The incidents have taken place since US President Joe Biden took office in January, pledging to join the 2015 nuclear pact – abandoned by his predecessor Donald Trump in a move welcomed by Israel – if Tehran returns to full compliance. agreement.
Iran said on Tuesday it would begin enriching uranium with a purity of 60%, a move that will bring the fissile material closer to 90% suitable for a nuclear weapon.
Reporting by Ghaida Ghantous and Lisa Barrington in Dubai, Dan Williams in Jerusalem and Jonathan Saul in London; Montage by Alison Williams, William Maclean