Iranian Ship Struck in Strait of Hormuz, One Dead

An Iranian commercial vessel was struck by a projectile early Sunday near Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, killing one crew member and injuring others, according to Iranian state media and international maritime monitoring agencies. The Associated Press reported that four of the vessel’s 10 crew members were wounded, while Iranian authorities cited by Reuters and other outlets reported three injured. The vessel was hit near the waters off Qeshm and Hengam islands, according to Iranian officials. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency separately reported that a ship was struck by a projectile while transiting the strait, followed by a fire and the evacuation of its crew by local authorities. It was not immediately clear whether the two reports referred to the same vessel. No party had claimed responsibility for the strike, and the origin of the projectile had not been established.

The incident adds to mounting security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime passage linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The waterway carries a significant share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, making disruptions there a concern for energy markets and import-dependent economies. Commercial traffic through the strait has remained low amid the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States and Israel, which began Feb. 28. Iran has sought to assert greater control over maritime movement through the passage, while the United States has maintained a blockade of Iranian ports and rejected Tehran’s efforts to impose its own restrictions. The latest strike follows a separate attack that prompted Saudi Arabia to temporarily shut its East-West oil pipeline, increasing concern about the reliability of alternative routes for Gulf oil exports.