An oil tanker sailing through the Strait of Hormuz caught fire after being struck by an "unknown projectile" off the coast of Oman, British maritime authorities said on Tuesday, raising fresh concerns over security in one of the world's most vital energy transit corridors.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the vessel was travelling southbound near Limah, Oman, when it was hit on its port side, igniting a fire. The agency added that there were no casualties or environmental pollution and urged ships operating in the area to remain vigilant as an investigation into the incident continues.
US officials have accused Iran of carrying out the attack.
According to Axios, which cited two US officials, Iran's military launched at least two missiles at commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Monday night.
One of the officials said the tanker identified by UKMTO was among the vessels struck, while another commercial ship was also hit by an Iranian missile. Although both vessels reportedly suffered significant damage, no casualties were reported.
The reported strikes came after a one-week understanding between the United States and Iran to suspend attacks in the Strait of Hormuz came to an end.
The pause had coincided with Iran's six-day state funeral ceremonies for former supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Following a funeral procession in Tehran attended by millions of mourners, Khamenei's body was moved to the holy city of Qom on Monday.
Axios reported that Washington is now likely to consider retaliatory strikes against Iranian targets.
The latest attack took place despite a ceasefire between the United States and Iran and continuing diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching a longer-term peace arrangement.
Indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran in Doha last week concluded without a major breakthrough on the future of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz remains among the world's most strategically significant maritime chokepoints. According to the US Energy Information Administration, about 20 million barrels of crude oil passed through the waterway each day in 2024, accounting for roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies.
The route became a focal point during the recent US-Iran conflict after Iran imposed a blockade and multiple commercial vessels came under attack, sending global energy prices sharply higher.
Shipping activity resumed after the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding last month to reopen the passage.
Tehran, however, has maintained that maritime traffic will not return to pre-war arrangements and has warned vessels against using routes outside an authorised corridor along Iran's coastline.
Funeral ceremonies for Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli strike on February 28, are continuing this week with events scheduled in Qom, Iraq's holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, before his burial in Mashhad on Thursday.
Iranian authorities have portrayed the large public gatherings during the ceremonies as a demonstration of national unity in the aftermath of the recent conflict.
The British military said the tanker was attempting to leave the Strait of Hormuz and enter the Gulf of Oman when it was struck.
The incident is expected to renew concerns over the safety of one of the world's busiest energy shipping lanes as tensions in the Gulf remain elevated.
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