Ships near the Strait of Hormuz, seen from Musandam, Oman, on Monday (local time). [Reuters]
Ships near the Strait of Hormuz, seen from Musandam, Oman, on Monday (local time). [Reuters]

An oil tanker was struck in the Strait of Hormuz on the same day the United States launched an economic sanctions offensive against Iran.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said Tuesday (local time) that a tanker had been hit by an unidentified projectile in waters near Oman, a coastal state along the Strait of Hormuz, leaving the vessel unable to continue sailing, according to CNN and other media reports.

The tanker was attacked early that day while passing about 9 nautical miles (roughly 16.7 kilometers) off the northeastern coast of Oman. The strike damaged the vessel's engine room, rendering it inoperable, and no casualties were reported.

The environmental impact of the attack has not yet been confirmed, and the tanker's nationality and destination remain unknown.

The strike coincided with the Trump administration's declaration of an economic war against Iran. On Monday (local time), the administration announced what it called "Operation Economic Isolation," a campaign centered on imposing secondary sanctions on Iran and on third countries that trade certain goods with it.

UKMTO said "relevant authorities are investigating the incident" and advised that vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz "should pass with caution and report any suspicious activity."


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