Three Tankers Hit in Strait of Hormuz as Iran Tensions Escalate

Three Tankers Targeted

Three tankers were hit Tuesday in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the British military, in another dangerous escalation targeting vessels moving through the key Persian Gulf waterway.

One tanker, reportedly carrying liquefied natural gas from Qatar, was struck near Limah, Oman, and caught fire. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said the projectile hit the port side of the vessel as it was heading south toward the Gulf of Oman.

Two other tankers were also hit, including one reportedly struck by a drone. Maritime officials said the vessels sustained damage, but no injuries were reported. At least one ship continued its route.

Iran Suspected

Iranian state television suggested the LNG tanker was attacked after allegedly ignoring warnings, though Tehran did not officially claim responsibility.

Iran has repeatedly warned that only its approved routes through the strait are safe, while the U.S.-overseen Joint Maritime Information Center has said the route near Oman remains open for shipping.

Qatar called the attack on the Al Rekayyat tanker an “unacceptable attack” on international navigation and global energy security.

Qatar said it holds Iran fully legally responsible for the strike.

Global Energy Risk

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints. In peacetime, roughly one-fifth of traded oil and natural gas passes through the channel.

The attacks come as the U.S. pushes for talks with Iran aimed at reopening the strait, rolling back Tehran’s nuclear program, and ending the war that began on February 28.

President Donald Trump warned Iran that it must “make a deal” or face further U.S. action.

Bottom Line

Iran’s threats against international shipping are a direct challenge to global security. The U.S. and its allies cannot allow Tehran to turn the Strait of Hormuz into a toll road for terror and intimidation.