OMM Redaksiyası
A supertanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz near the coast of Oman was struck by an unidentified projectile. The incident occurred on Oct. 1, Iran’s semi-official FARS news agency reported, alleging that the vessel had violated navigation rules in the strait.
A report published Friday by the agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said the tanker, capable of carrying 2.5 million barrels of oil, was hit about 8 kilometers off Oman’s coast and was burning in the Strait of Hormuz. The agency alleged that the vessel had taken an “unauthorized” route south of the waterway.
Attacker’s identity not disclosed
FARS cited local sources but did not identify who carried out the attack. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Sepah News website also did not report the incident or claim responsibility for the attack.
The agency said the incident was confirmed late Thursday by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which posted information about it on its website.
Tensions continue in the strait
Citing Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), which oversees the strait, FARS reported that several oil tankers had been targeted in the waterway in recent days. According to the report, the latest three vessels were owned or chartered by the United Arab Emirates.
The tankers “Al Ruwais,” “Sinbad” and “Mersin Prosperity” have reportedly attempted several times over the past two months to transit the Strait of Hormuz. FARS said the vessels had been added to PGSA’s updated list of “non-compliant vessels.”
The strategically important narrow waterway linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman has become a contentious issue in the ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States following the signing of a memorandum of understanding in Islamabad in June. Tehran accuses Washington of violating Article 5 of the memorandum: Iran alleges that the United States is seeking to bypass its control by escorting commercial vessels along a southern route, while imposing an economic blockade on ports of the Islamic Republic on both sides of the strait.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key route for global energy shipments, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the wider Indian Ocean. Its narrow passage and importance to oil transport have made security and freedom of navigation there a recurring concern for regional and international actors.
