Deutsche Welle (English), on Iran, 6 November 2026

6.0out of 10Serious

Iran war: Gulf tanker attacked, 1 seaferer killed

Tap a highlight to see why it matters.2 findings

An explosion believed to have been caused by a missile attack on ‌an oil ⁠tanker in the Persian Gulf left one seafarer dead, the vessel's operating company said on Friday. Greek management firm Velos Tankers said the ​Marshall Islands-flagged tanker MT Velos Sapphire ​was sailing towards Bahrain when it ‌was attacked. "The company is ‌greatly saddened to report the ‌death ​of one of its seafarers, who was found fatally injured on board after having initially been ​reported missing in the aftermath of the explosion," the firm said.

The explosion caused a fire to break out in the ship. The crew were able to extinguish the fire without reporting any other injured. Bahrain's Khalifa Bin Salman Port ultimately took in the ship and now a investigation into the incident will be launched to assess the extent of the damage to the vessel's hull. Shipping crews caught in the crossfire of the Hormuz conflict To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Iran using 'everything it can' to stop oil flows

US newspaper The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) cited regional officials, security firms and analysts in a report detailing how Iran is using everything it can to stop the flow of oil leaving the Strait of Hormuz. According to the report, Tehran has launched bomb-laden undersea drones, fired rocket-propelled grenades and deployed crews to attach limpet mines to ships over recent weeks. According to data from the UK Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO), October saw the highest monthly number of attacks in the Strait of Hormuz since the war began, with more than 35 incidents.

At least five vessels have been attacked so far in November, UKMTO added. The increasing attacks coincides with signs of recovery in shipping through Hormuz. US Central Command said last month it had helped Gulf countries export 1.5 billion barrels of oil via Hormuz since the summer. On Thursday, Iranian media reported that five oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz. On Friday, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said two more oil tankers were on fire in the strait, state media reported.

Meanwhile, Iranian media said ​on Friday ​that Iranian ​air defenses ‌had destroyed a US ‌MQ-1 drone ‌over Qeshm Island in the Strait ​of Hormuz. The ‌United States did not confirm the incident. It all comes in the wake of the US launching strikes on Qeshm Island on Tuesday, with Iranian state media reporting five explosions in rapid succession. A statement attributed to Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned that the Middle East war would widen if the US resumes its attacks.

Khamenei has rejected the notion that Washington will change course after midterm elections dealt a blow to President Donald Trump . How much oil is getting through the Strait of Hormuz? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

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What we found (2)

Deutsche Welle reports an explosion, believed to have been caused by a missile attack, that killed one seafarer on a Greek-managed tanker, but nothing in its report says who fired. It still tells readers, in its own voice, that the incident is the latest in a string of attacks by Iran. A subheading also says Iran destroyed a 'missile' over Qeshm island, when the body says Iranian media reported the downing of a US drone and the US did not confirm it.

  1. States one side's claim as fact

    Serious

    “The incident is the latest in a string of attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf by Iran.”

    Why this matters
    In its own voice DW calls the attack on the MT Velos Sapphire 'the latest in a string of attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf by Iran'. That puts this attack in Iran's column.
    The impression it gives
    A reader believes it is established that Iran fired the missile that killed the seafarer.
    The context
    The article's only sources on this attack are the operating company and the port. They say an explosion was 'believed to have been caused by a missile attack' and that the ship 'was attacked'. Nobody in the article says who fired. DW cites the Wall Street Journal on Iran's wider campaign, but no source for Iran's responsibility in this case. The other coverage gives no attacker either.

    How we know

    Show it in the article

    Written straight

    It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack. The Wall Street Journal has reported that Iran is behind a series of recent attacks on ships in the Gulf.

  2. Subheading contradicts the body and drops attribution

    Minor

    “Iran destroys missile over Qeshm island”

    Why this matters
    DW's subheading states as fact that Iran destroyed a 'missile' over Qeshm island.
    The impression it gives
    A reader believes Iran shot down a US missile, and that this is confirmed.
    The context
    The body says Iranian media reported the downing of a US MQ-1 drone, not a missile. DW itself adds that the United States did not confirm the incident.

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“The ‌United States did not confirm the incident.”

    Show it in the article

How other outlets reported it

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