BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Three commercial tankers were struck by projectiles on Tuesday while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, marking one of the most serious days of maritime attacks in the strategic waterway since the conflict between the United States and Iran began.
The latest incidents have heightened fears over the security of one of the world’s most important energy corridors, raising concerns about global oil and natural gas supplies while diplomatic efforts to reach a lasting peace remain stalled.
According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the first tanker came under attack near Limah, Oman, as it attempted to travel south through the Strait of Hormuz toward the Gulf of Oman. The projectile struck the vessel on its port side, igniting a fire that prompted an emergency response. Despite the damage, authorities have not reported any casualties among the crew.
Iranian state television reported that the targeted vessel was a liquefied natural gas tanker carrying cargo from Qatar. The broadcaster claimed the ship had ignored warnings before the strike but stopped short of issuing an official statement claiming responsibility for the attack.
Two additional tankers were also struck during the day, including one reportedly hit by a drone. Maritime officials said both vessels sustained damage, although no injuries were reported aboard either ship. At least one of the affected tankers was able to continue its voyage after the incident.
The attacks represent the highest number of strikes against commercial vessels in a single day since late April, according to figures from the International Maritime Organization. The renewed violence has once again raised alarm across the international shipping industry, with concerns that continued attacks could severely disrupt traffic through the narrow waterway, which serves as one of the world’s most vital energy transit routes.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. During normal conditions, approximately one-fifth of the world’s traded crude oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the strategic passage. Any prolonged disruption to shipping in the area has the potential to drive up global energy prices and create wider economic uncertainty.
Iran has repeatedly insisted that commercial vessels should follow routes approved by Tehran while transiting the strait. Iranian officials have also expressed suspicion toward alternative routes operating closer to Oman’s coastline, and previous incidents have fueled allegations that ships using those routes have faced attacks.
The United States Central Command did not immediately comment on Tuesday’s incidents.
The attacks come at a sensitive moment as Washington seeks to revive negotiations with Tehran aimed at permanently reopening the Strait of Hormuz, reducing tensions in the region, curbing Iran’s disputed nuclear activities and reaching a lasting settlement to the conflict that erupted on Feb. 28. However, progress toward those goals has slowed significantly, placing an interim agreement under increasing pressure.
Previous confrontations in the Strait of Hormuz have triggered military retaliation between the United States and Iran while also drawing neighboring Gulf Arab states into periods of heightened security. Analysts warn that another sustained cycle of attacks could destabilize regional shipping and undermine international efforts to restore confidence in commercial navigation.
Qatar strongly condemned Tuesday’s attack after identifying one of the targeted vessels as the LNG tanker Al Rekayyat.
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari described the incident as an unacceptable assault on international navigation and global energy security. He called it a serious violation of international law and said Doha considers Iran legally responsible for the attack. In a statement posted on social media platform X, Al-Ansari emphasized that attacks on civilian shipping threaten not only regional stability but also the broader international economy.
Last week, Iran’s joint military command warned that all oil tankers traveling through the Strait of Hormuz must use routes designated by Tehran. Military officials also cautioned that any interference by U.S. forces operating in the waterway would receive what they described as a rapid and decisive response.
Despite those warnings, the Joint Maritime Information Center, a multinational organization overseen by the U.S. Navy, advised commercial operators on Monday that the shipping route along Oman’s coastline had been expanded and remained available for international traffic.
Current navigation procedures require vessels traveling north along Iran’s designated corridor to coordinate with Iranian authorities, while ships heading south generally work with Omani officials and U.S.-led maritime security forces.
Speaking at the White House on Monday, President Donald Trump renewed pressure on Iran to finalize a broader agreement.
Trump said Iran would have to “make a deal, or we’re going to finish the job,” while adding that he preferred a negotiated solution over further military escalation. He warned that the United States possessed the capability to rapidly target Iranian infrastructure but expressed hope that diplomacy would prevent additional conflict.
Under the existing interim agreement between Washington and Tehran, commercial vessels have been allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz without paying passage fees for a temporary 60-day period. Iran, however, has maintained that it should retain authority over shipping routes and eventually impose transit charges on vessels using the strategic passage, a proposal strongly opposed by the United States and several Gulf Arab nations.
Those countries argue that freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz is protected under international law and reject any attempt by Iran to impose mandatory fees or unilateral control over commercial traffic.
Shipping analytics company Kpler reported that at least 108 vessels successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend using a variety of approved routes, underscoring the continued importance of the waterway despite mounting security concerns.
Meanwhile, diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Iran remain effectively suspended until after the funeral ceremonies for Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the opening phase of the war.
Iranian state television broadcast live coverage on Tuesday showing hundreds of thousands of mourners gathering around Jamkaran Mosque near the holy city of Qom for funeral ceremonies honoring Khamenei. The mosque holds deep religious significance for Shiite Muslims, who believe it has historical ties to Muhammad al-Mahdi, the Twelfth Imam.
Large banners displaying portraits of Khamenei alongside his son and successor, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, lined the streets as mourners participated in the processions. Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly during the ceremonies and is believed to be recovering in a secure location after reportedly being wounded in the same airstrike that killed his father.
Iranian authorities have imposed extensive security measures during the mourning period, including road closures, restrictions on airspace and widespread disruptions to daily activities across several cities.
Following ceremonies in Qom, Khamenei’s body is expected to be transported to Iraq, where additional funeral processions are scheduled in the Shiite holy cities of Najaf and Karbala.
The renewed attacks on commercial shipping, combined with stalled diplomacy and ongoing regional mourning, have intensified uncertainty across the Middle East. Governments, shipping companies and global energy markets are now closely watching developments in the Strait of Hormuz, where any further escalation could have significant consequences for international trade, regional security and the global economy.
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