A tanker travelling through the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that serves as the main maritime gateway for Gulf energy exports — caught fire after being struck by a projectile on Monday, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre. The incident occurred eight nautical miles east of Limah, on the Omani coast, as the vessel was travelling southbound toward the Gulf of Oman. No casualties or environmental damage were reported, and authorities said they were investigating.

Iranian state television said the tanker, described as a liquefied natural gas carrier, had been targeted after ignoring warnings, though Tehran stopped short of claiming direct responsibility. A US official cited by the news outlet Axios alleged that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired at least two missiles at commercial vessels in the strait, with a second ship also reported to have been significantly damaged. These claims could not be independently confirmed, and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A further US official told Axios that American retaliatory strikes against Iranian targets were considered likely.

The attack comes against a fraught backdrop. Beginning on 28 February, when the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran, Tehran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly 20 million barrels of crude oil passed daily in 2024, or about one-fifth of global supply — causing a sharp rise in global energy prices. Washington responded with a naval blockade and retaliatory strikes. Maritime traffic only resumed after Washington and Tehran signed a framework agreement, known as the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, in June, aimed at ending hostilities and reopening the route.

However, Iran has made clear it will not return to pre-war arrangements allowing free passage through the strait. Tehran has warned ships to use only a corridor it has authorised along its coastline, and has repeatedly declared that only this approved route is safe. Many major shipping companies have redirected their vessels toward Omani waters to avoid the more closely monitored Iranian corridor. Talks between Washington and Tehran on a permanent peace deal appear to be on hold following the death of Iran's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the start of the conflict. Mourners honoured his body in the Shia seminary city of Qom on Tuesday.

The latest attack underscores how fragile the ceasefire arrangement remains. The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most important oil chokepoint, and any sustained disruption to shipping there has immediate consequences for global energy markets, particularly for Asian economies that depend heavily on Gulf crude. President Donald Trump, speaking on Monday, warned that the United States would either reach a deal with Iran or "finish the job" — echoing earlier threats of military action if tensions escalate further.