Unknown projectile strikes oil tanker near Strait of Hormuz, maritime agency says

An oil tanker was struck by an “unknown projectile” and caught fire off the coast of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.

What happened

UKMTO said the incident occurred eight nautical miles east of Limah, Oman, as the vessel was travelling southbound. The agency reported the tanker was hit on the port side, which caused a fire.

“A tanker has reported being hit by an unknown projectile on the port side, causing a fire, whilst travelling southbound,” UKMTO said in a post on X.

The maritime agency said there were no reports of casualties or environmental damage and advised that vessels transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO. It added that authorities were investigating.

Further reports and verification

US news outlet Axios reported late Monday that Iran had “fired at least two missiles at commercial ships”, citing two unnamed US officials. Axios reported that one official said a second ship had been struck and was significantly damaged. AFP said it has not been able to independently confirm the Axios report.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment, according to the report.

Regional context

The Strait of Hormuz sits at the centre of international energy shipping routes. The IOL report noted that maritime traffic through the waterway resumed after Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding last month aimed at ending the conflict and reopening the route.

The report also said Iran has insisted there will be no return to pre-war arrangements, warning ships against using routes outside a corridor it has authorised along its coastline.

Why it matters

The Strait of Hormuz is a key gateway for energy exports from the Gulf. The report cited the US Energy Information Administration figure that around 20 million barrels of crude oil passed through the waterway each day in 2024, accounting for roughly one-fifth of global crude.

Authorities and maritime operators remain on alert following the incident while investigations continue.