Saudi authorities are guiding an Iranian oil tanker to Jeddah port after responding to a distress call over an engine failure and loss of control in the Red Sea, according to Iran's state news agency.
The Iranian oil vessel was en route to the Suez Canal when a technical failure caused the boat tanker to lose power. All 26 crew members are safe.
Reports of an oil spill have been dispelled by Iranian state-run news agency, IRNA.
There was no immediate admission of a serious incident in Iran, which suffered an oil tanker disaster last year in the East China Sea that killed 32 sailors and now faces a US pressure campaign over its oil sales.
Agencies quoted Saudi Arabia's state news agency as saying Saudi authorities said various government agencies were involved in the operation, including those who handle environmental protection. It did not elaborate on whether oil had spilled from the tanker.
The Happiness I stopped its engines on Tuesday, then was shadowed by Iran's Sabiti tanker close enough to have its crew disembark, TankerTrackers said. Two tugboats from Saudi Arabia appeared to have reached the ships, TankerTrackers said.
Saudi Arabia and Iran are chief regional rivals. Iran now faces increased pressure from the US over its oil sales after US President Donald Trump pulled America out of its nuclear deal with world powers. Iran has warned it will respond aggressively to any attempt to cut its oil exports to zero, as the Trump administration has pledged to do.
In January 2018, the Iranian oil tanker Sanchi struck the Chinese freighter CF Crystal 257 kilometers off the coast of Shanghai in the East China Sea. The Sanchi was carrying nearly 1 million barrels of a gassy, ultra-light oil bound for South Korea.
