Three oil tankers were reportedly struck in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran warned vessels against using a southern route backed by the United States, raising new doubts over Washington-Tehran negotiations.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Three oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz were reportedly struck Tuesday, increasing pressure on already fragile negotiations between Washington and Tehran after Iran warned commercial vessels against using a route along Oman’s coast.
The reported attacks came as talks between the United States and Iran remained paused while Tehran holds a week-long funeral for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed by joint Israeli and U.S. strikes on the first day of the war.
“At least three tankers trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz via a route Iran has warned ships against using appeared to come under attack Tuesday. Iran did not claim any of the attacks, but its state TV network said at least one vessel ignored warnings from Iranian forces,” CBS News reported Tuesday.
Iran had previously directed vessels leaving the Strait of Hormuz to follow a northerly route along the Iranian coast. The United States instead urged ships to use a southerly route along Oman’s coast.
The dispute over maritime routing has become a central point of tension in the strategic waterway, where attacks on commercial vessels could further complicate efforts to reach a final agreement between the United States and Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said talks on a final deal would not proceed if U.S. threats continue. He did not specifically cite President Donald Trump’s Monday warning that Iran should make a deal or face further action.
“Negotiations on final deal will not commence if threats continue,” Araghchi said.
“Honor your signature,” Araghchi added, referring to the memorandum of understanding signed by Trump and his Iranian counterpart in mid-June.
Trump issued his own warning Monday as Iran had officially paused negotiations during the state funeral.
“…make a deal or we’re going to finish the job,” Trump said. “I’d rather make a deal, because I don’t want to affect 91 million people … We can knock down their bridges in one hour. We can knock out their energy supply.”
At least two of the tankers struck Tuesday were flagged by Gulf nations.
“A Qatari tanker carrying liquefied natural gas was struck by a projectile as it transited the strait near Oman’s coast earlier in the day, according to the U.K. navy,” CBS News reported.
CBS News also reported that a source briefed on the incident told Reuters the Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker was at risk of exploding because of a fire in its engine room after it was struck in the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.K. navy’s Maritime Trade Operations center later received another report involving a tanker moving through the strait.
“The U.K. navy’s Maritime Trade Operations center said it received ‘a report of a further incident involving a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz,’ in what appeared to be a possible third attack on a commercial vessel by Iran Tuesday,” CBS News reported.
The Islamic Republic had previously struck a Singapore-flagged commercial vessel on June 25 for failing to follow its approved exit route from the Strait of Hormuz.
Tuesday’s reported strikes place new strain on the mid-June understanding between the United States and Iran and raise the prospect that maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz could become a decisive issue in whether the paused negotiations resume.
Original article
Comments