Vessel was set on fire; Authorities say the fire was controlled with no injuries or leaks
A Kuwaiti-flagged oil tanker was hit and set on fire off the coast of Dubai in the early hours of this Tuesday (March 31, 2026) – Monday night (March 30) in Brasília. Kuwait Petroleum Corp., the ship’s owner, said the offensive was a “direct attack” by Iran. The vessel, identified as Al-Salmi, was fully loaded with crude oil at the time of the offensive.
The episode occurred after the president of the United States, (Republican Party), declared that the country would destroy Iranian energy facilities if Tehran did not open the Strait of Hormuz. The offensive is part of a sequence of actions against commercial ships in the Gulf since February 28, when . During this period, vessels have been targets of maritime and aerial missiles and drones.
According to Kuwait Petroleum Corp., the attack caused a fire and damage to the hull. Dubai authorities later said the flames were brought under control following action by emergency teams.
The company said the crew, in coordination with UAE authorities, brought the fire under control. There were no injuries and no oil spills or environmental damage were reported.
According to , the tanker has the capacity to transport around 2 million barrels of oil, a load that could exceed US$ 200 million in . After the attack, oil prices briefly rose again. A barrel of the Brent type accumulates an increase of 56% in the month and now exceeds US$ 113, driven by the restriction of global supply.
Iran’s Parliament proposed to charge tolls on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz, one of the main oil routes in the world. The measure determines restrictions on the passage of vessels from countries considered hostile, such as the United States and Israel. The charge does not yet have a defined value, but Iranian authorities indicate that it could reach millions of dollars per ship and become a relevant new source of revenue for Tehran.
In the military field, the Iranian government raised its tone against the United States. If the country’s authorities approach the region, increasing the risk of direct confrontation. In response, Trump said the US could target Iranian energy facilities and has beefed up military presence in the Middle East as he pushes for the full reopening of the strait.
Despite the escalation, there are contradictory trading signals. and indicated progress in the conversations, although without detailing the terms. In parallel, he once again stated that he would control Iranian oil production, in a strategy similar to that adopted in Venezuela. “Iran should not charge tolls through the strait”the North American president, when criticizing Tehran’s measures on the maritime route.
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