A liquefied natural gas tanker caught fire early Tuesday morning after being struck by a projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, according to the British military. The incident marks the latest attack on a vessel navigating the vital waterway, which historically handles a significant portion of global oil and natural gas trade.
Iranian state television indicated the tanker ignored warnings before the attack but did not explicitly claim responsibility. The outlet suggested Tehran may have carried out the assault on the vessel, which reportedly carried natural gas from Qatar. Iran's joint military command had previously warned that all oil tankers must adhere to its approved routes through the strait and that any interference by U.S. forces would be met with a severe response.
Meanwhile, the country is engaged in mourning for its late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed in an earlier conflict. His body was flown to Qom, where large crowds gathered for funeral services. During this period of national mourning, there have been increasing reports of mourners calling for the death of U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump himself issued a warning to Iran on Monday, stating that a deal would be preferred but that the U.S. could cripple Iran's energy supply if necessary.
The United States has expressed eagerness to resume negotiations with Iran aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, addressing Iran's nuclear program, and achieving a lasting end to the conflict. However, previous attacks in the strait have led to retaliatory strikes by the U.S. and subsequent escalations, raising concerns about regional stability.
Talks between Iran and the U.S. appear to be paused until after Khamenei's burial, scheduled for Thursday in Mashhad. The funeral ceremonies, which began Saturday, have seen hundreds of thousands of people participate in processions in Tehran and Qom. Images of Khamenei and his son, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who is believed to be the new Supreme Leader and may have been wounded in the strike that killed his father, have been displayed by mourners.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center confirmed the tanker was hit near Limah, Oman, on its port side as it attempted to travel south out of the strait. Authorities are investigating the incident, and no environmental impact has been reported thus far. The incident occurred as data indicated over 100 ships had transited the strait in the preceding weekend.