Second tanker hit by projectile in Strait of Hormuz this week

A tanker was struck by an "unknown projectile" in the Strait of Hormuz near the Omani coastal city of Khasab, causing a fire that was later extinguished, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency confirmed early on Thursday, August 27.bssnews+1

All crew members were reported safe with no environmental impact detected. The UKMTO did not identify the vessel's nationality or direction of travel, and authorities are investigating the source of the attack. The incident was reported to the agency on Tuesday and classified as Alert 121.yahoo+2

The strike marks the second attack on a tanker in the strait this week. On Monday night, another oil tanker — identified in open-source analysis as the Liberia-flagged Aframax Metro Venetian — was hit by a projectile approximately nine nautical miles northeast of Ash Shishah, Oman, disabling its engine room before it proceeded to Fujairah under its own power.gulfnews+1

A Waterway Under Siege

The Strait of Hormuz has become a central flashpoint in the war between the United States and Iran, which began on February 28 when the U.S. and Israel attacked the Islamic republic. Iran has effectively blockaded the strait since then, firing on vessels attempting to transit and seeking to charge tolls for passage.rte+1

The UN's International Maritime Organization has reported 70 incidents in the strait since February 28, killing 19 seafarers. Oil flows through the waterway have fallen to a three-month low of five million barrels per day, down from roughly 20 million barrels per day before the war.rte

Diplomatic Efforts Intensify

The attacks come amid a flurry of diplomacy. Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani is set to travel to Tehran on Thursday for talks on de-escalation and freedom of navigation in the strait. Pakistan's army chief recently departed Tehran after delivering what was reported as a U.S. proposal involving sanctions relief in exchange for Iran reopening the waterway.dailypioneer+2

U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he has "no time schedule" for Iran to return to negotiations, telling Al Jazeera he is "not in a hurry" while insisting Washington is "winning very big." U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday outlined plans for the "economic asphyxiation" of Iran, announcing "Operation Economic Outcast" to sever Tehran's financial connections worldwide.english.mathrubhumi+1

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded that the new sanctions "will not achieve anything."bssnews+1