Gaping holes in the side of Iranian oil tanker that was hit by two missiles are revealed for the first time, as Putin heads to Saudi Arabia to calm rising tensions between the countries

  • Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Saudi Arabia following tanker attack 
  • Iranian-flagged tanker was hit by two suspected missile strikes off Saudi coast
  • Saudi oil installations were also targeted - halving the kingdom's crude output
  • New images have revealed the damage done during missile attacks last week

Damage done to an Iranian oil tanker struck by two suspected missile strikes off the coast of Saudi Arabia has been revealed in new images.

Images released yesterday by Iran's National Iranian Oil Tanker Company (NITC) showed two gaping holes in the side of the vessel.

For the first time the alleged damage done to the Iranian-flagged tanker showed the square-shaped impacts just above the water line of the Sabiti.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Saudi Arabia today, where he will seal oil agreements as well as use his influence to defuse rising tensions in the Gulf.

The meeting with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman comes following attacks on Saudi oil installations that Riyadh and the US have blamed on Iran, an ally of Moscow.

Oil will be 'the main topic of discussion' between the leaders, Russian political analyst Fydor Lukyanov said, as a deal between the 24 members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is due to expire next spring.

An image released by the National Iranian Oil Tanker Company (NITC) yesterday showing the reported damage in the hull of the Iranian-flagged Sabiti tanker

An image released by the National Iranian Oil Tanker Company (NITC) yesterday showing the reported damage in the hull of the Iranian-flagged Sabiti tanker

Iran released pictures showing two gaping holes in the hull of an oil tanker, Sabiti, it alleges was attacked off Saudi Arabia last week

Iran released pictures showing two gaping holes in the hull of an oil tanker, Sabiti, it alleges was attacked off Saudi Arabia last week

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Saudi Arabia's King Salman (right) attend an official welcome ceremony in Riyadh today

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Saudi Arabia's King Salman (right) attend an official welcome ceremony in Riyadh today

Russia is not a member of OPEC, headed by Saudi Arabia, but it has worked closely with the group to limit supply and push up prices after a 2014 slump that badly hit the Russian economy.

Moscow and Riyadh - a traditional ally of Washington - have made a striking rapprochement in recent years, marked in particular by King Salman's first visit to Russia in October 2017.

A year later, when Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was under fire after the assassination of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey, Vladimir Putin went out of his way to shake his hand at a G20 summit, to much comment.

In an interview with Arabic-language television channels ahead of his visit, Putin praised his good relations with the King and Crown Prince.

'We will absolutely work with Saudi Arabia and our other partners and friends in the Arab world... to reduce to zero any attempt to destabilise the oil market,' he said in the interview broadcast Sunday. 

Analyst Lukyanov said that Moscow - with its older ties to Iran as new links with Saudi - could 'play the role of peacemaker' as tensions between Tehran and Riyadh continue to rise.

Last week the Iranian-flagged tanker, Sabiti (above), was hit by suspected missile strikes off the coast of Saudi Arabia, sparking fresh conflict fears

Last week the Iranian-flagged tanker, Sabiti (above), was hit by suspected missile strikes off the coast of Saudi Arabia, sparking fresh conflict fears

Pictures (above) showing damage done to an Iran-flagged tanker were released by the Islamic Republic yesterday

Pictures (above) showing damage done to an Iran-flagged tanker were released by the Islamic Republic yesterday

Putin and King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (left to right) of Saudi Arabia during a meeting at the Royal Palace at the start of their summit today

Putin and King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (left to right) of Saudi Arabia during a meeting at the Royal Palace at the start of their summit today

These tensions spiked last month after the attacks on Saudi oil facilities that initially halved the kingdom's crude output and set oil markets alight.

Yemen's Huthi rebels claimed responsibility, but US officials blamed Iran and said the rebels did not have the range or sophistication to target the facilities.

Tehran has denied involvement and warned of 'total war' in the event of any attack on its territory.

Russia attempted to keep a foot in both camps - proposing missiles to Riyadh to defend itself, while at the same time warning against 'hasty conclusions' regarding Iranian involvement.

Last week the Iranian-flagged tanker, Sabiti, was hit by suspected missile strikes off the coast of Saudi Arabia, sparking fresh conflict fears.

'As far as Russia is concerned, we will do everything possible to create the necessary conditions for a positive dynamic' aimed at easing tensions, Putin said in the interview broadcast Sunday. 

Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said the Syria conflict would also feature in the leaders' talks today.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin will visit Saudi Arabia over oil talks today. He is pictured (above) at a meeting of the Council of CIS Heads of State on Friday

Russia's President Vladimir Putin will visit Saudi Arabia over oil talks today. He is pictured (above) at a meeting of the Council of CIS Heads of State on Friday

The crew of the Iranian-flagged Sabiti tanker posing for a picture on the deck of the ship. The image was released by the National Iranian Oil Tanker Company yesterday

The crew of the Iranian-flagged Sabiti tanker posing for a picture on the deck of the ship. The image was released by the National Iranian Oil Tanker Company yesterday 

Russia and Iran are allied with the regime of Bashar al-Assad, while the Saudis support the opposition.

But 'it is important for Russia that an Arab country participates in the political settlement in Syria,' said Lukyanov.

So far 'only three non-Arab countries' - Turkey, Russia and Iran - are hosting talks, he said.

In terms of business, the visit is expected to result in around 30 agreements and contracts, according to Ushakov.

Around a dozen of these - in the advanced technology sectors, energy and infrastructure - will be signed by the Russian Sovereign Fund and are worth around $2 billion.

In October 2017, Russia and Saudi Arabia also signed a memorandum of understanding paving the way for Riyadh's purchase of Moscow's powerful S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems.

The sale never materialised, however, as Saudi Arabia eventually opted to purchase a US system.

After Saudi Arabia, Vladimir Putin will travel to the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday to meet the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

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