Iran strikes fully laden Kuwait oil tanker Al-Salmi in Dubai port — fire, hull breach, oil spill warning

Iran struck the Al-Salmi, a fully laden crude oil tanker owned by the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), while it was anchored in the anchorage area of Dubai's port. The KPC confirmed in a statement that the vessel's hull sustained damage and a fire broke out on board. Kuwait's authorities subsequently issued a warning about the potential for an oil spill in surrounding waters. Al Jazeera reported that Kuwait confirmed the vessel was hit in what it described as an Iranian attack, consistent with statements from KPC. The Bloomberg report (published 23:32 UTC March 30, updated 00:05 UTC March 31) was the first to confirm Iran's targeting of a fully loaded commercial oil vessel inside a UAE harbor. The attack represents a significant escalation: previous Iranian maritime strikes targeted military logistics and port infrastructure; this is the first confirmed strike inside a UAE port on a civilian commercial vessel. A fully laden VLCC or supertanker carries approximately 2 million barrels of crude. An oil spill in Dubai port anchorage would threaten one of the world's busiest commercial harbors. No crew casualties were immediately reported. The strike comes hours after Trump threatened to 'obliterate' Iran's energy infrastructure if a ceasefire was not reached 'shortly.'