DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Cargo Ship Hit in Strait of Hormuz
A cargo ship traveling through the Strait of Hormuz along a U.N.-sanctioned route was struck by a projectile on Thursday. This incident occurred as several tankers attempted to navigate the same passage, according to the British military.
Iran has used this shipping lane, which runs near Oman’s coast, to exert pressure on vessels. This route was established under the auspices of the United Nations Maritime Organization.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations Center reported that the attack did not cause any casualties or environmental damage. The potential opening of an alternative passage through this crucial waterway could ease global economic pressures and diminish Iran’s leverage in ongoing negotiations with the U.S. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting the Gulf to reassure allies, stated that the U.S. supports this new route.
While traffic in the straits has seen an uptick, it still pales in comparison to pre-war levels. On Thursday, oil prices briefly fell below the pre-war benchmark of just under $73 per barrel, indicating that the market may be starting to stabilize.
Ongoing discussions continue between the U.S. and Iran regarding the terms of a preliminary peace agreement, covering everything from ship passage through the Persian Gulf to Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Under a memorandum signed last week, both nations have a 60-day window to finalize the agreement. Even though these discussions are confidential, it appears that U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian officials are making their negotiations public through an exchange of threats and demands for concessions.
In Lebanon, tensions have escalated between Israel and Hezbollah militants backed by Iran, raising concerns about a wider ceasefire. Recently, Lebanon reported five fatalities due to Israeli strikes over the past two days.
The oil tanker, under the name Stoic Warrior, navigated along the United Arab Emirates and Oman early Thursday, utilizing a route designed by Oman and the International Maritime Organization.
Previously, a corridor in the strait allowed unobstructed passage for ships, which transported a significant portion of the world’s oil and natural gas. After attacks on February 28 by the U.S. and Israel, Iran asserted that it had laid a mine in this passage, and at least one landmine has since been observed.
Some vessels have been navigating through the strait with U.S. military support, while the United Nations agency is also working to assist trapped ships. The shipping company Maersk confirmed that its container ship Maersk Baltimore, along with another chartered vessel, departed on Thursday.
According to maritime analysis firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence, 125 ships transited the strait last week, a significant rise from just 33 the prior week. S&P Global reported 78 crossings on Wednesday, marking the highest figure since the onset of the conflict, yet still under the average of over 130 daily pre-war transits.
Richard Mead, editor-in-chief of Lloyd’s List, noted that operators are becoming more willing to pursue backlog shipments as they perceive transport risks to be decreasing.
In response to the new route and the increase in maritime traffic, Iran’s naval Revolutionary Guard issued a warning on Thursday, characterizing it as “unacceptable and completely dangerous.” This warning came without prior notification or coordination with Iran.
The Iranian military stated that the only authorized route through the Strait of Hormuz is the one established by Iran itself, declaring vessel traffic outside of designated routes as “extremely dangerous and prohibited.” However, specific actions against violators were not detailed.
So far, there have been no reports of incidents within the strait. On Wednesday, Iranian guards relayed a threat to one tanker over the radio, ominously stating that the vessel was “within range of my missiles and I might fire on you,” as reported by security experts.
Rubio convened with foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council and assured them that their interests would be safeguarded in any agreements with Iran. These nations, which heavily rely on the strait for energy exports, have faced Iranian aggression since the war began.
“Nothing in this agreement will compromise the security or prosperity of our Gulf partners,” Rubio claimed during a meeting in Bahrain, which is home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet.
He also mentioned that the United States and its Gulf allies would ensure that ships passing through the strait wouldn’t incur any fees. Maintaining the Oman route as an open passage is a priority for the U.S., with Rubio stating, “If that stops, we’re going to have a problem.”
Bahrain’s Foreign Minister expressed gratitude for U.S. support, highlighting that the deal brings “a ray of hope in the region,” while emphasizing the importance of Iran adhering to its commitments.
A temporary halt in hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, ongoing since Sunday, began to fracture as Israel resumed targeting militant positions. The Lebanese Ministry of Health indicated that three individuals were killed in an Israeli car attack in southern Lebanon on Thursday.
Hezbollah denounced these actions as a violation of the ceasefire but has not retaliated. No immediate response from the Israeli military was provided regarding the attack, coinciding with Israeli and Lebanese discussions in Washington about a proposed phased withdrawal of troops from southern Lebanon.
The Israeli army reported that one reservist was killed and another injured in southern Lebanon, while the conflict has claimed over 4,000 lives due to Israeli airstrikes since the March escalation, with at least 37 Israeli soldiers also reported dead during the confrontations.
