Key facts
- Two tankers reported attacks near the Strait of Hormuz.
- One vessel sustained damage to its engine room after being struck by a projectile.
- A second tanker reported a close-proximity explosion.
- The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial chokepoint for global oil trade.
- US forces have renewed strikes on Iran.
- US President Donald Trump threatened to hit Iran 'very hard'.
Two tankers have reported coming under attack near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil and gas transit chokepoint, according to a British maritime agency. The incidents occurred as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to escalate.
One vessel reported being "struck by an unknown projectile" northeast of Lima, Oman, resulting in damage to its engine room, though no injuries were reported. Approximately three hours later, a second report detailed a large splash and explosion in close proximity to another tanker northeast of Khasab, Oman. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) advised vessels in the region to proceed with caution and report any suspicious activity.
The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, handles about a quarter of the world's seaborne oil trade. The US military rejected claims that Iran had reclosed the waterway, asserting it remains open for commercial transit. This statement followed renewed US strikes on Iranian Revolutionary Guard command centers and military facilities, which CENTCOM stated were intended to degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping.
US President Donald Trump indicated he was "losing faith" in the prospect of a peace deal with Iran and threatened severe repercussions. In response to earlier US strikes, Tehran had launched attacks on American military bases across the Middle East.