Iranian authorities have reported that a commercial vessel was struck in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving one person dead and four others injured amid the escalating conflict between Iran and the United States.
Iran’s state broadcaster, IRIB, said the incident occurred late Saturday near Qeshm Island.
The Islamic Republic News Agency quoted the Qeshm governor as blaming a “terrorist enemy” for the attack, without identifying those responsible.
The United States has not commented on the reported incident, while CNN said it had contacted US Central Command for a response.
American forces have previously targeted Iranian-flagged vessels as part of a blockade of Iranian ports, amid continuing tensions over shipping through the strategic waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical route for global energy supplies.
Before the war, about 20 million barrels of oil passed through the strait daily, but maritime traffic has reportedly fallen by about 90 per cent since the conflict began.
Separately, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday that the MT El Gaia, a Panamanian-flagged vessel carrying 14 Indian crew members, had been attacked off the coast of Oman.
Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said 13 of the 14 Indians had been rescued, while search operations continued for the remaining crew member.
“Of the 14 Indian crew onboard, 13 Indians have been rescued so far,” Jaiswal said. “Search and Rescue operations for the missing Indian national are continuing.”
It remains unclear whether the vessel referred to by Iranian state media was the MT El Gaia.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre also reported that another vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile in the strait late Saturday.
It said the incident sparked a fire and prompted local authorities to assist in evacuating crew members, but did not disclose the vessel’s flag or registration.
The reports came as Gulf Arab states sought to engage Iran over the future management of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
A meeting planned for Monday in Oman between Iran’s foreign minister and Gulf diplomats was postponed after concerns were raised over the proposed terms.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said the meeting was postponed “in the interests of consensus.”
Iran has been negotiating with Oman over arrangements for shipping through the strait, although Iranian officials have stressed that any reopening would depend on the United States ending its blockade.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the waterway would be reopened only if Washington ended its blockade, while a senior Iranian official told CNN that the discussions were intended to establish safer maritime routes but would not automatically result in the reopening of the strait.
“However, this agreement does not imply an automatic reopening of the Strait of Hormuz,” the source said. “The strait will not become secure until the US fulfills its obligations and halts its naval blockade and economic warfare.”
Meanwhile, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for an attack on a Saudi military base in the Sharurah region on Sunday, saying they used ballistic missiles and drones against weapons depots and command centres.
The Houthis have recently intensified their offensive in Yemen and expanded their control towards the Red Sea, raising concerns over another major international shipping route.
Last week, they captured Perim Island at the entrance to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a strategic waterway linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
