Iran Warns Tanker Crews At Kuwait, Bahrain Ports To Abandon Ships Immediately, Threatening To Target Them

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy warned crews aboard oil tankers near ports in Kuwait and Bahrain to leave their vessels on Sept. 8, saying the ships would be targeted after the US destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers.

The warning covers tankers that are anchored or docked at the ports, according to a statement carried by Iranian state media. It came hours after the US military said it had struck five Iranian tankers in the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf.

The IRGC Navy said the warning was in response to US attacks on Iranian oil tankers. It also accused Kuwait and Bahrain of hosting US forces and supporting its actions against Iran.

On Sept. 9, Iran reported attacking 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz in response to US attacks on its oil tankers.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said four Iranian crude carriers were struck in the Gulf of Oman and one near Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf.

The strikes came after Iran’s IRGC attempted twice to hit a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles.

The US military stated that the warship avoided both attacks and that no American personnel were injured.

It added that the crews of the five tankers had been ordered to abandon the vessels before the ships were struck and left inoperable.

CENTCOM identified the tankers as M/T Charminar, M/T Kaviz, M/T Horizon 1 and M/T Riesco in the Gulf of Oman, and M/T Derya near Kharg Island.

Iranian state media reported a different account, saying two tankers had been hit.

One tanker was reported to be about four miles from Kharg Island, a major Iranian oil export hub. The other was reported off Jask near the Gulf of Oman.

Iranian reports said the crews were being taken ashore in lifeboats.

The IRGC Navy repeated its warning in a statement carried by Iranian state media, telling tanker crews near Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports to leave their vessels.

It said Kuwait and Bahrain “host these terrorists and are partners in their actions”.

The IRGC Navy then ordered crews to leave both anchored and docked vessels, saying the ships would be targeted.

The warning was also posted through the Iran in Hyderabad consulate handle on X. The post described the statement as an evacuation order for oil tankers near Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports.

References: News18, iranintl