Norwegian Tanker in Gulf Hit by 2 Missiles From Iranian Gunboat

An Iranian gunboat struck a Norwegian-owned tanker in the Persian Gulf with two surface-to-surface missiles, causing minor damage but no injuries, marine salvage executives reported Wednesday.

The crew of the 78,531-ton Ambia Fortuna extinguished a small fire caused by the attack Tuesday, then took the vessel to Dubai for repairs, they said.

The attack came despite an increased presence of U.S., British and French warships in the region since Iran launched a new offensive into southeastern Iraq last month.

The shipping executives, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Iran apparently wants to avenge recent Iraqi attacks on commercial shipping in the northern sector of the gulf, a region Iraq has defined as an “exclusion zone” of military operations in its 6 1/2-year-old war with Iran.

The Ambia Fortuna, loaded with Kuwaiti crude oil, was attacked just before midnight near the Strait of Hormuz, the southern entrance to the gulf, the executives said.

They said an Iranian gunboat challenged the tanker, then shadowed it for about an hour before firing the missiles. One hit the port side and exploded, while the other punched a 12-inch hole in a ballast tank, they said.

Iran has singled out vessels carrying Kuwaiti oil for attack, charging that the Arab gulf nation supports Arab Iraq. Iran also has vowed that if its tanker routes are threatened by Iraq, it will menace all other shipping.