Two ships were recently attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, including an Indian cargo vessel that caught fire and sank off the Omani coast. Additionally, another ship was reportedly “seized by unauthorized persons” while anchored, as it headed towards Iranian waters.
The Indian vessel, identified as the MSV Haji Ali, was about 175 feet long and was transporting livestock from Berbera in Somalia to the UAE. A “massive explosion,” possibly resulting from a drone or missile strike, led to the fire onboard. Fortunately, the Omani coast guard managed to rescue the 14 crew members. However, the ship ultimately sank on Wednesday, likely with many of the livestock still aboard.
While Indian and Omani officials haven’t directly named the attacker, it is widely believed to be Iran, given its history of threatening maritime routes unless its demands are met.
The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the actions, labeling the attacks as “unacceptable” and expressing concern over the ongoing targeting of commercial vessels and civilians at sea.
Meanwhile, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO) announced that another ship had been boarded and seized about 44 miles northeast of Fujairah. The captors of this vessel reportedly took it to Iranian-controlled waters.
The UKMTO has yet to identify the ship, but reports suggest it could be the Honduran-flagged cargo ship Hui Chan. Recent tracking data indicated it was located northeast of Fujairah, similar to the other vessel. The operator of Hui Chan mentioned that it functions as a floating arsenal for a security company protecting ships from piracy.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, on Thursday, dismissed allegations of Iran’s involvement in attacking vessels, claiming that the Strait of Hormuz is “open to all commercial vessels.” He attributed current tensions to American interventions and insisted that the strait is accessible, provided ships cooperate with the Iranian navy.
He expressed hope that lifting what he termed the “illegal blockade” by the US would ease these tensions. However, Iranian state media contradicted his claims, stating that the strait is mainly closed to navigation, barring a few exceptions for Chinese vessels, in line with strategic partnerships. One such vessel, the Yuan Hua Fu, successfully navigated the strait on Wednesday, transporting roughly 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil.
