A tanker ship was struck by an unidentified projectile Tuesday while traveling near Omani waters in the Strait of Hormuz, according to maritime authorities, further straining the U.S.-Iran ceasefire and creating uncertainty for commercial shipping.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported the attack took place less than 10 miles east of Limah, Oman, early Tuesday. The unidentified projectile struck the tanker’s port side and sparked a fire.
UKMTO said there were no reported casualties and no environmental impact has been detected.
According to Iranian state media outlets, the vessel harmed in the incident was identified as the Al Rekayyat, which was transporting a shipment of liquified natural gas from Qatar. Reports said the ship was only targeted after allegedly ignoring warnings from Iranian officials against traveling in Omani waters through the Strait of Hormuz.
But no Iranian authorities have publicly claimed responsibility for the attack.
Tehran has consistently said commercial shipping vessels must travel through Iranian-controlled waters in the Strait of Hormuz and work with Iran’s military or face severe consequences.
The Foreign Ministry of Qatar blamed Iran for the attack on the Al Rekayyat, calling the incident an explicit violation of international law.
“The targeting of the Qatari tanker Al Rekayyat as it was passing near the Strait of Hormuz is an unacceptable attack on the security and safety of international navigation and the security of global energy supplies,” Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari wrote on X.
The apparent attack is the latest flare-up in the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. The strait is supposed to be open to commercial vessels under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed by Iran and the U.S.
Under the terms of the memorandum, the strait is to remain open and toll-free for at least 60 days, while Iran, the U.S. and Oman finalize a governing framework for the waterway.
The agreement also calls for a ceasefire on all fronts and for the U.S. and Iran to begin technical negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief.
Shipping has picked up significantly in the strait since the U.S. and Iran signed the memorandum last month, but traffic is still well below pre-war levels. Recent attacks in the waterway are likely to scare off commercial shipping companies.
In late June, a commercial vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile while attempting to travel through the strait via Omani waters. Iran did not claim responsibility for the attack but was quickly blamed by the U.S., which launched strikes on Iranian military targets shortly after.
Iran responded with retaliatory strikes on U.S. military installations in the region.
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