Tehran released a picture of a Sabiti tanker with two starboard holes due to a missile attack while traveling off Saudi Arabia.

The image taken yesterday by the National Iranian Oil Company (NITC), the owner of Sabiti, showed two square holes on the starboard side of the ship just above sea level, causing the hull to be penetrated and bent. inside.

Iran said the tanker Sabiti was hit by a rocket on October 11 in waters about 100 km west of the port of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. The attack caused a massive fire on the ship and spilled oil into the Red Sea, but there were no human losses. The fire was quickly controlled before Sabiti returned to Iranian territorial waters.

This is the first time Tehran's commercial ships have been raided in the Middle East. Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabei warned that the country would respond when the truth was found. "The people behind this cowardice attack will get the appropriate response," he added.

The US Navy 5 Fleet, which is in charge of operations in the Middle East, announced the offensive but did not comment further.

The incident comes amid tensions in the Gulf region that remain high after a drone attack and cruise missiles targeting two key Saudi oil plants. The United States and many of its allies accuse Iran of being behind the raid, while Tehran has denied it.

Location of Jeddah port of Saudi Arabia. Graphics: BBC.