Escalation in the Strait of Hormuz
On Tuesday, two tankers were attacked in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns over the safety of international shipping and energy supplies. One of the vessels involved was an LNG (liquefied natural gas) carrier, which faced a significant risk of explosion due to the damage sustained.
The incident occurred as large crowds gathered in Qom, Iran, to mourn the passing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The attacks have further heightened tensions in the region, with Qatar accusing Iran of orchestrating the attack on its liquefied natural gas tanker, the Al Rekayyat.
Attack on the Al Rekayyat
According to reports, the Qatari LNG carrier, Al Rekayyat, was struck by a drone overnight, causing a fire in its engine room. The crew members were reported to be safe and undergoing evacuation. However, maritime security sources indicated that the fire could potentially lead to an explosion, posing a serious threat to the vessel.
In a recorded radio call reviewed by Reuters, the captain of the Al Rekayyat described the situation: “Mayday mayday mayday. This is vessel Al Rekayyat, LNG vessel Al Rekayyat. We are being hit by drone on port side, top of engine room.” He added, “Status: engine room fire and full of smoke. Unable to assess further damage.”
Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari condemned the attack, calling it an unacceptable violation of international law and a threat to global energy supplies. He urged Iran to cease actions that endanger regional security and emphasized that Tehran would bear legal responsibility for any resulting damage.
Additional Incident Involving a Saudi Tanker
In addition to the attack on the Al Rekayyat, a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker, believed to be the supertanker Wedyan, was also damaged off Oman’s coast. Maritime security sources confirmed the incident, though the cause remained unclear at the time of reporting.
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggested that initial evidence pointed to Iran being responsible for targeting the two commercial vessels. However, no official statement or claim of responsibility had been issued by Iranian authorities.
Another incident was reported later on Tuesday when a tanker was struck by a drone while transiting the strait. Although the damage was minor, the vessel managed to proceed to its next port of call, according to a report from the British navy-affiliated UKMTO.
Regional Tensions and International Response
These incidents mark the first reported attacks in the Strait of Hormuz since the mourning period for Khamenei began last week. The events underscore the ongoing insecurity faced by Gulf shipping, even more than four months after the United States and Israel launched a conflict aimed at preventing Iran from threatening its neighbors.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to resume bombing operations, most recently stating during a press conference in the Oval Office: “We’re either going to make a deal or we’re going to finish the job… We can knock down their bridges in one hour we can knock out their energy supply.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi responded to these threats, stating that negotiations on a final deal would not commence if threats continued, as outlined in the interim ceasefire memorandum.
