Iran Hits Ammonia-Laden Tanker

Iranian gunboats and a helicopter launched a fierce attack Tuesday on a Norwegian-operated tanker laden with volatile ammonia, killing two seamen and injuring nine others.

The 38,534-ton Havglimt, operated by the Oslo-based Havtor Co., was hit at dawn about 12 miles northwest of Dubai.

Later, Iranian attackers struck a Greek supertanker on its way from Louisiana to the Saudi terminal of Ras Tanura, in the southern Persian Gulf, sending 10 of its 29 crew members fleeing to a lifeboat.

The U.S. Navy guided-missile frigate Jack Williams steamed to the scene and stood by while salvage tugboats and the remaining crew battled the blaze aboard the 357,130-ton Stavros G.L.

Likewise, the British destroyer Exeter sent a helicopter with a gas-masked medical team to help the crew of the Havglimt. Most of the injuries were due to inhalation of ammonia vapors, maritime officials said.

According to reports reaching Dubai from salvage tugboats that helped the Havglimt, two Iranian gunboats first attacked the tanker with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.

Forty minutes later, one gunboat fired again while a helicopter was rocketing the vessel.

Fires and leaks aboard the Havglimt and Stavros G. L. were brought under control by salvage teams late Tuesday afternoon.

Iraq, meanwhile, fired another missile at Tehran. Iranian reports said an unspecified number of civilians were killed or injured.

The missile was the 106th aimed at the Iranian capital since Feb. 29. During the same period Iran has fired about 65 missiles at Baghdad.