Two oil tankers were struck in separate incidents off the coast of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, one of them hit by an unknown projectile that damaged its engine room, amid heightened regional tensions surrounding Iran.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the first vessel was struck about 11 nautical miles northeast of Oman’s Lima. The tanker “was struck by an unknown projectile which has caused damage to the engine room,” the agency stated, leaving the ship “not under command.”
No casualties or environmental damage were reported in either incident. A second maritime event was recorded in the same vicinity, though details of its cause remained unclear.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, with a significant share of global seaborne crude oil passing through the narrow waterway that separates the Persian Gulf from the Gulf of Oman. Any disruption to shipping in the corridor carries immediate implications for global energy markets.
The latest incidents come as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to escalate, with US media reports suggesting President Donald Trump is preparing a fresh round of strikes against Iran. Iranian officials have repeatedly warned they could move to choke off shipping routes through the strait in response to military pressure.
This development follows a series of confrontations in recent months that have repeatedly disrupted maritime traffic in the region. Earlier this year, tensions surrounding the waterway sharply intensified as attacks on vessels and blockade fears rattled global markets.
The narrow strait has long been a flashpoint in the broader standoff between Iran and Western powers, with both commercial and military vessels frequently caught in the crossfire of regional hostilities.
Maritime security agencies have advised vessels transiting the area to exercise heightened caution. Investigations into the cause of both incidents are ongoing, and authorities have yet to attribute responsibility for the strikes.