A tanker caught fire after being struck by an unknown projectile while traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway off the coast of Oman, according to the UK military. The incident occurred early on Tuesday near Limah, Oman, marking the latest vessel to be targeted in the region. The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre reported that the projectile hit the port side of the vessel as it was traveling south out of the strait toward the Gulf of Oman.
Fortunately, there was no environmental impact from the strike, and authorities are currently investigating the incident. No one has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, although Iran is suspected of attacking at least two other vessels in the strait in recent days. According to a report by Axios, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards fired at least two missiles at commercial ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday night, causing significant damage but no casualties.
The incident comes as tensions between Iran and the US remain high, with indirect talks to end the war appearing to be on hold due to the burial of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the start of the US-Israel war on Iran on 28 February. The US and Iran had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire, which included allowing ships to pass through the strait without paying charges, as part of an interim deal formally signed at the Palace of Versailles. However, the rhetoric and actions in the region have complicated the agreement.
Iran’s joint military command recently stated that all oil tankers moving through the strait must use its approved routes, warning that any failure to comply would be met with a forceful response. US President Donald Trump has renewed his threat of military action, saying that the US would either reach a deal with Iran or ‘finish the job.’ He also stated, ‘We can knock down their bridges in one hour, we can knock out their energy supply… They don’t have any money now. We haven’t given them any money.’ Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has responded by saying that negotiations on a final deal would not commence if US threats continued, adding that ‘millions of proud Iranians’ were gathering for the funerals of the slain supreme leader. ‘Neither them nor our Brave Armed Forces are moved by any threats,’ he wrote on X. ‘Honour your signature,’ he added.
