Oil tanker struck by projectile off Oman: UKMTO

Photo: Collected

An oil tanker was struck and disabled by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, causing damage but no casualties, a British maritime agency said early Tuesday.

"The Master of an oil tanker reports the vessel has been struck by an unknown projectile causing damage to the engine room and disabling the vessel," with the crew reported as safe, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said.

The incident occurred nine nautical miles (16.7 kilometres) northeast of Ash Shishah in Oman, it said.

The online statement did not specify the vessel's nationality or direction of travel.

Tehran has imposed an effective blockade of the strait since the United States and Israel struck Iran in late February, and wants to charge tolls for passage, attacking ships it accuses of attempting to circumvent its preferred route.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent laid out plans on Monday for the "economic asphyxiation" of Iran, as the Middle East war approached its sixth month.