A ship was hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire on board, according to the British maritime security agency UKMTO, citing the crew. The tanker, located about eight nautical miles off the Omani coastal town of Limah, reported no injuries.
Who was behind the attack remained initially unclear. The Axios portal reported, citing two US officials, that Iranian Revolutionary Guards had fired at least two rockets at freighters. One of the officials said two ships were heavily damaged by the fire. These attributions could not be independently verified. There was no immediate official reaction from the US government.
Just over a week ago, a similar incident led to US military strikes against Iran. The US Central Command (Centcom) said that among other targets, air defense positions, drone storage sites, and surveillance infrastructure were hit.
Only on Thursday, the Iranian military reiterated its claim that Iran alone controls the Strait of Hormuz. All oil tankers and merchant ships are obliged to use only the route set by the Islamic Republic, according to a statement from the military leadership circulated by Iranian media. “Any disregard for this directive (…) will be met with an immediate and decisive response from the armed forces,” it added.
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, vital for global trade in oil, gas, and fertilizer, is a central element of the framework agreement reached by representatives from Washington and Tehran nearly three weeks ago. The US demands free passage for all ships without fees. After the Israeli and American attacks on Iran began in February, the Iranian side effectively brought shipping in the strait to a halt with threats and attacks.
Source: www.spiegel.de
