An oil tanker was attacked on Tuesday in the Strait of Hormuz, located off the coast of Oman. Iranian state television suggested that Iran targeted the vessel after it allegedly ignored military warnings, according to reports from Reuters and Euronews.com.
The British military initially reported an attack involving an “unknown projectile” on a tanker transporting natural gas from Qatar. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) specified that the projectile hit the port side near Limah, Oman.
“A tanker reported being struck by an unknown projectile on the port side, causing a fire while heading south,” UKMTO stated in a post on X. The organization noted that the attack had no environmental impact and that authorities are conducting an investigation.
Following the incident, Iranian state media claimed the ship was attacked after it disregarded warnings. However, there has been no official claim of responsibility from the Islamic Republic concerning this attack.
Meanwhile, Axios reported, citing two U.S. officials, that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard launched at least two missiles at commercial vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian military command warned last Thursday that all tankers passing through the strait must adhere to approved routes.
“Any failure to comply, deviation from the designated route, or disregard for the navigation protocols of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz will be met with an immediate and firm response from armed forces, jeopardizing the security of vessels that violate these rules,” the Iranian statement said.
It was also noted that any intervention by U.S. forces in the strait would be met with a rapid and decisive reaction.
Iran and the United States had agreed, under a provisional arrangement, to allow vessels to pass without paying fees for 60 days. However, Tehran insisted on controlling the routes for vessels and subsequently charging transit fees, overturning a decades-old practice in this waterway.
The United States and many Gulf Arab states assert that they will not agree to Iran charging fees for passage through the strait. An initiative by Oman and a United Nations agency to open a new route near the coast of Oman has previously triggered attacks throughout the Middle East, highlighting existing tensions.
