New vessel hit in Strait of Hormuz amid rising regional tensions
Maritime authorities reported a projectile strike on a ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz, adding to concerns after Saudi Arabia temporarily shut its East-West oil pipeline following a drone attack.
Maritime trackers received a report on Sunday that a projectile struck a vessel moving through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The extent of damage and the condition of the crew were not known at the time of the report.
The incident follows Saudi Arabia's decision to temporarily close its 1,200-kilometre East-West pipeline as a precaution after a drone attack that Saudi and Iraqi officials said originated in Iraq, where militias backed by Iran operate. The pipeline, which has been carrying 4-5 million barrels of oil per day—about 4% to 5% of global supply—has served as a key export route while the strait has faced disruptions.
No group has claimed responsibility for the pipeline attack. Satellite imagery showed smoke near a section of the pipeline south of Medina, and Saudi officials said the strike caused injuries and damage that were still being assessed.
U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking while in Ireland, suggested Iran could be responsible for the recent attacks. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has asked Washington for military assistance against the Houthi rebels, but U.S. officials indicated that direct intervention would not occur at present, with intelligence support offered instead.
Separately, Yemeni government sources said Houthi forces seized the island of Perim in the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a strategic chokepoint at the Red Sea’s entrance. Iran’s parliamentary security chief, Ebrahim Azizi, posted on social media that dialogue would not be productive unless the United States accepted all Iranian conditions.
Iran announced plans to attend a Gulf-state meeting in Oman to discuss the future of the Strait of Hormuz, though a senior Iranian official, speaking anonymously, downplayed expectations of a binding agreement. The meeting is also set to involve Iraq and will address an agreement on navigation routes, which Iran says should include recognition of its right to collect fees from transiting ships—a demand the United States has rejected.