On Tuesday, Iran launched attacks on three commercial vessels in Oman’s territorial waters adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by a U.S. official. This incident has been characterized as a significant breach of an existing memorandum of understanding with Iran.
Among the affected vessels was the Qatari-flagged liquefied natural gas tanker, al-Rakiyat, which was reportedly struck while navigating near the strategic waterway. The attack was documented by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) at 9:19 PM UTC on Monday, translating to 1:19 AM local time in the Persian Gulf.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, labeling it a “grave and explicit violation of international law” and urged Iran to cease actions jeopardizing regional security and international maritime safety. They emphasized Iran's legal responsibility for the incident and any consequences that might ensue.
Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency claimed that the tanker was attacked after allegedly ignoring multiple warnings, although no official confirmation of these claims has been provided.
The UKMTO indicated that the vessel was struck approximately eight nautical miles east of Limah, Oman, causing a fire but, fortunately, no casualties or environmental damage have been reported. This incident unfolds as President Trump prepares to attend a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where discussions regarding security in the Strait of Hormuz are anticipated.
Additionally, Iran is currently in the midst of a multi-day mourning period for its deceased supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a recent airstrike. The timing of these attacks coincides with heightened tensions as negotiations between the U.S. and Iran remain stalled.
Iran has previously leveraged the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for global oil transportation, as a bargaining tool. The region has seen a steady flow of maritime traffic, although risks for vessels navigating these waters continue to be a concern, according to maritime security updates.
Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR-2 News (source).
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