Dozens of crew members have been rescued after abandoning two oil tankers reportedly hit by explosions in the Gulf of Oman, APA reports citing BBC.
Ship operators said 21 crew on board the Kokuka Courageous and 23 on the Front Altair had been evacuated.
Iran rescued the 44 after an "accident", state media said, although the cause is unconfirmed. The US Navy said it received two distress calls.
The incident comes a month after four oil tankers were attacked off the UAE.
The United Arab Emirates blamed an unnamed "state actor" for those attacks, which involved naval mines. The US said Iran was behind the attacks, an accusation Tehran denied.
The attacks increased long-standing tensions between Iran and the US and its allies in the Gulf.
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