Ship hit near Strait of Hormuz as Iran shipping curbs raise risks

A projectile struck a ship leaving the Strait of Hormuz and injured a crew member off Oman. The attack sharpened concerns over shipping safety as Iran, Oman and regional powers pushed competing diplomatic moves.

In Short

• A projectile struck a ship near Oman, damaging its engine room
• UKMTO said one crew member was a casualty, status still unclear
• Omani Coast Guard assisted survivors while authorities began investigating the attack

A ship was hit by a projectile early Tuesday while sailing out of the Strait of Hormuz, the British military's UK Maritime Trade Operations centre said, highlighting the continuing risks in the waterway. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

The incident came as Iran continues to restrict shipping traffic through the strait and as it finalises talks with Oman on a plan to manage passage through it. The development also unfolded against the backdrop of stalled US-Iran negotiations and fresh diplomatic efforts in the wider region.

The UKMTO said an unidentified projectile damaged the engine room of the ship and "resulted in a crew casualty" as the vessel was trying to transit the strait off the coast of Oman. Citing a report from the company's security office, the agency did not identify the ship or its cargo. It was not clear whether the crew member was killed or wounded. The Omani Coast Guard was assisting the other crew members, while authorities were investigating, it said.

The agency said no environmental damage had been reported in the latest attack, despite growing concern over oil spills in the Persian Gulf and nearby waters from damaged vessels attempting to cross the strait. Iran effectively closed the waterway after Israel and the US attacked the country on February 28. Before the war, roughly one-fifth of the world's traded oil supplies passed through the strait. The US is also currently blockading all Iranian shipping traffic through the passage.

With US-Iran negotiations stalled, Iran has been holding separate talks with Oman on a plan to manage ships transiting the strait, and said on Monday that it was finalising details for a joint statement. US President Donald Trump reacted angrily and was reported to have told Fox News reporter Trey Yingst in a telephone interview that the US would bomb Oman if it "gets in the way".

Separately, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Trump in a telephone call to continue seeking a diplomatic solution to the conflict with Iran. The call took place late Monday as the 60-day negotiating period for a peace deal between the United States and Iran was expiring, with no word on an extension and both sides appearing as far apart as they were at the start.

"President Erdogan said it is important to make maximum use of diplomacy amid tensions between Iran and the United States, expressed our hope that talks will continue, and noted that Turkiye will keep supporting efforts toward peace," a statement from the Turkish presidential communications office said. The statement added that Erdogan also expressed concern over intensified Israeli actions targeting Palestinians at a time when efforts are under way to move to the second phase of the Gaza agreement.

Earlier this month, Turkiye, a NATO member that borders Iran, signed a joint defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The agreement stipulates "that any armed attack against any one of the three states shall be regarded as an attack against them all". Trump praised the agreement in a social media post, saying "it shows how the Middle East is coming together, and how Countries will finally be able to defend themselves in a more meaningful way." During the conversation, Erdogan told Trump the deal reflected "a strong stance to ensure regional stability and security".

The ship attack, the talks over the Strait of Hormuz and Erdogan's call to Trump together underlined the pressure on regional shipping and the wider effort to contain the conflict through diplomacy.

With PTI Inputs

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