A commercial tanker caught fire early Tuesday after it was struck by a projectile while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

The incident took place east of Limah in Oman as the vessel was travelling south towards the Gulf of Oman. UKMTO said the projectile hit the port side of the tanker, triggering a fire on board. No casualties or environmental damage have been reported.

The maritime agency said the incident is under investigation and urged vessels operating in the area to remain alert and report any suspicious activity immediately.

US points finger at Iran

No group or country has claimed responsibility for the strike. However, the United States has blamed Iran.

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Citing two US officials, Axios reported that Iran’s military fired at least two missiles at commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Monday night. The reported attack comes despite an earlier understanding between Washington and Tehran to halt direct attacks after weeks of military escalation.

The US military had previously said it carried out strikes on Iranian missile and drone storage facilities, as well as coastal radar sites, after Iran allegedly targeted the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel M/V Ever Lovely with a one-way attack drone on June 25.

US President Donald Trump also criticised the reported drone strike, calling it a “foolish violation” of the ceasefire agreement.

When asked whether Iran would face consequences, Trump responded, “Well, you’ll find out.”

Iran has denied involvement in the earlier attack. It later launched strikes on US military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain before both sides agreed to de-escalate.

Talks remain on hold

According to Axios, officials from both countries later met in Qatar and agreed to halt direct military action.

“We decided to stop all the kinetic activity,” a senior US official told Axios.

Another US official said both sides had agreed to stand down “for now”, allowing commercial vessels to continue using the Strait of Hormuz while technical discussions continue.

Negotiations remain paused until after the burial of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Also Read | Iran to charge Strait of Hormuz ships after free passage ends, allies to benefit

Meanwhile, Iran has warned that oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz must follow its designated navigation routes, cautioning that violations would invite an “immediate and forceful response from the armed forces.” Earlier this month, UKMTO also reported an attack on a cargo vessel southwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen, highlighting continuing security concerns in the region.

FAQs:

Where did the tanker catch fire?

The tanker caught fire after being struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz off Oman’s coast.

Has anyone claimed responsibility for the attack?

No group has claimed responsibility, though the United States has blamed Iran.