Tanker Hit by Two Projectiles Off Oman, Maritime Agency Says

A tanker was struck by two projectiles off the coast of Oman on Wednesday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said, in the latest incident affecting shipping near the Strait of Hormuz.

What happened

The UKMTO, which is run by the British military and monitors commercial shipping in the region, said the vessel was hit about 14 nautical miles northeast of Limah, on Oman’s Musandam Peninsula. The projectiles struck the ship’s engine room, the agency said.

No casualties were reported, according to the UKMTO. The agency did not say who fired the projectiles. Shipping trade publications identified the vessel as a large crude carrier flagged in Barbados; that identification has not been confirmed by the UKMTO.

Authorities advised vessels in the area to transit with caution and to report any suspicious activity.

Unverified claims

Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that four tankers had struck mines and that its forces had shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone. Those claims have not been independently confirmed.

BBC Verify said it found no evidence to support the claim that four tankers had been hit. The US military had not publicly confirmed the loss of a drone as of Wednesday afternoon in Pakistan.

Context

The incident came as Iran and the United States exchanged messages through mediators over Tehran’s conditions for reopening the strait. A senior Iranian official called Washington’s latest reply “not convincing,” while Qatar said talks were continuing, according to Al Jazeera.

President Donald Trump confirmed this week that US forces carried out what he called a “minor attack” on an Iranian anti-aircraft site, the BBC reported.

Impact on markets

Attacks on shipping in and around the strait have kept energy prices elevated. Brent crude traded near $100 a barrel on Wednesday. Insurers have raised premiums for vessels operating in the area, and some shipowners have avoided the route altogether.

What to watch

Investigators will try to determine what kind of weapon struck the tanker and where it was launched from. Any confirmation of the IRGC’s mine claims would mark a significant escalation, since mines pose a broad risk to all traffic through one of the world’s busiest energy corridors. BURN VOC will update this story as more information becomes available.

How we reported this

This report is based on information confirmed by the Associated Press or by at least two major news organizations, as noted in the text. Figures from early or partial counts are identified as such and may change. BURN VOC will update this story as new information is released.