DUBAI: Conflicting claims by Iran and the United States over an alleged attack on an oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz have renewed regional tensions, while the incident has not yet been independently verified.
Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, citing unidentified sources, claimed that the tanker was attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz via Omani waters with support from the U.S. Navy when it was reportedly targeted.
The report alleged that the vessel had been warned multiple times but failed to comply with instructions. However, no Iranian government official has confirmed or denied the claim.
Iran has previously maintained that commercial vessels using the southern shipping lane near Oman should coordinate with Iranian military authorities before transiting the strategic waterway.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials accused Iran of carrying out the attack, alleging that at least two missiles were fired at commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to U.S. officials, one oil tanker caught fire after being struck, while a second commercial vessel also sustained significant damage. No casualties have been reported.
Iran has not officially responded to the U.S. allegations, and no independent source has verified either side’s account of the incident.
Analysts warn that any escalation in the Strait of Hormuz—a critical maritime route through which a substantial share of the world’s oil exports passes—could heighten concerns over global energy supplies and international shipping.
