Tehran, Iran – The oil tanker Falcon, which caught fire in the Gulf of Aden, was carrying a cargo of Iranian liquefied natural gas, according to TankerTrackers.
The website explained that the tanker departed from the port of Asaluyeh in Iran and was likely bound for the port of Ras Isa in Yemen.
However, Iran’s Mehr News Agency denied any connection between the tanker and Iranian shipping fleets.
Naval Mission Statement
Naval Mission Statement
She pointed out that the fire broke out in about 15% of the tanker’s hull.
The mission warned all vessels operating in the area of the potential for further explosions, urging them to maintain a safe distance. It described the tanker “Falcon” as posing a threat to maritime traffic.
Falcon tanker
Meanwhile, European officials reported that 24 sailors were rescued by two merchant ships near the accident site, while two crew members remain missing.
In detail, TankerTrackers reported that the 31-year-old Falcon, owned by an Indian company, flies the Cameroonian flag, and was previously detained in Istanbul in January 2025 due to 13 technical defects.
Following the incident, Houthi officials denied targeting the tanker. British maritime security firm Embry stated that the tanker was en route from the port of Sohar in Oman to Djibouti. The explosion occurred 113 nautical miles southeast of the port of Aden.
Maritime security sources stated that no missile or drone activity was detected in the area at the time of the incident, supporting the hypothesis of a technical accident.
