White House Will ‘Continue to Assess’ Tanker Attacks in Oman

(Bloomberg) -- The Trump administration is evaluating reports of suspected attacks that damaged two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and sent oil prices surging.

“We are aware of reports of an attack on ships in the Gulf of Oman. The U.S. Government is providing assistance and will continue to assess the situation,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in an email Thursday.

The Bahrain-based U.S. Fifth Fleet said it received two separate distress signals at 6:12 a.m. and about 7:00 a.m. local time. “U.S. Navy ships are in the area and are rendering assistance,” Commander Josh Frey, a spokesman, said. He couldn’t confirm reports that one of the attacks was caused by a torpedo. Iran said it has rescued 44 sailors.

The manager of one tanker, Front Altair, said it was sailing in international waters when it was damaged by an explosion, the cause of which “is as yet unknown.”

The second tanker, the Kokuka Courageous, said the ship “has been damaged as a result of the suspected attack.” It was sailing from Saudi Arabia to Singapore with a cargo of methanol.

The development will inflame already-rising political tensions in the region weeks after four vessels, including two Saudi oil tankers, were sabotaged in what the U.S. said was an Iranian attack using naval mines. Tehran denied the charge.

Read: U.A.E.-Led Probe of Oil Tanker Attacks Points to ‘State Actor’

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