Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) has expressed strong concern following attacks on two oil tankers operating within Iraqi territorial waters.
According to SOMO, the tanker SAFESEA VISHNU, flying the flag of the Marshall Islands and chartered by an Iraqi contracting company, and the tanker ZEFYROS, flying the Maltese flag and carrying condensate cargo from Basra Gas Company (BGC), were targeted while operating in the side-by-side loading area in Iraqi waters.
The tanker ZEFYROS had been preparing to enter Khor Al-Zubair port on 12th March 2026 to load an additional shipment estimated at 30,000 tonnes, after completing a side-by-side transfer operation and discharging a previous cargo.
SOMO said the incident represents a threat to Iraq’s economic security and poses risks to maritime navigation and oil-sector activities in Iraqi territorial waters.
In a separate statement, the Ministry of Oil expressed deep concern about recent developments in the Gulf region, particularly incidents involving oil tankers in key maritime routes. The ministry warned that escalating tensions in such a critical energy corridor could have wider implications for global energy supplies and the international economy.
The ministry stressed that the safety of international maritime routes and energy supply chains must remain outside regional conflicts, noting that disruption could endanger maritime workers and negatively affect millions of people across the region and beyond.
Iraq called on all parties to exercise restraint and to ensure that maritime routes and energy infrastructure are kept out of regional disputes in order to safeguard energy markets and economic stability.
Meanwhile, state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA) cites Basra Oil Company (BOC) as saying that its operational facilities have not been affected by the incident and that production and export activities continue normally. The company added that it remains in close coordination with the Iraqi government and sector partners while implementing precautionary measures in response to regional developments.
