|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard struck and detained a Togo-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz for unauthorized passage.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it struck and detained a Togo-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz after accusing the vessel of attempting an unauthorized passage. The incident comes as the strategic waterway remains heavily disrupted by the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Friday that its navy targeted the tanker Trend after it attempted what Iranian authorities described as an “illegal passage” through the strait. Iranian state media reported that the vessel caught fire and was brought to a halt. The Associated Press said it could not immediately independently confirm Iran’s account.
A British maritime security agency, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, separately reported a security incident in the Strait of Hormuz and said a vessel had been struck by an unidentified projectile, causing a fire that was later extinguished. It was not immediately clear whether the incident reported by the maritime agency involved the same tanker identified by Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy routes, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Before the current conflict, the waterway carried roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies, making disruptions there a major concern for energy markets and international shipping. Recent shipping data showed only four commodity vessels transited the strait Thursday, well below the 10-day average of about 16.
Iran has asserted control over the waterway during the conflict and has sought to restrict vessels it considers unauthorized. The latest tanker incident adds to mounting risks for commercial shipping as governments and maritime operators assess how to move vessels and energy supplies through the region. The United States has also been conducting operations related to its efforts to counter Iran’s restrictions on maritime traffic.
The tanker incident occurred as President Donald Trump considers the next phase of the U.S. war with Iran. Trump has said he faces a major decision over whether to intensify military operations or pursue other options, while Washington continues to signal interest in a possible agreement with Tehran. The continued disruption of the Strait of Hormuz adds another complication to efforts to resolve the conflict.
Sources: Associated Press, Reuters, Channel NewsAsia and Al Jazeera.