Tanker struck near Strait of Hormuz amid Khamenei mourning

A tanker was struck by an unknown projectile off the coast of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, causing a fire on board, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported. No casualties or environmental damage were recorded Source: UKMTO via multiple outlets. Qatari officials blamed Iran for the attack on the LNG tanker Al Rekayyat, saying it was hit by a drone Source: CNA. A second Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker was also damaged, according to maritime security sources Source: CNA. Iranian state television claimed the tanker ignored warnings but did not directly claim responsibility Source: Al Jazeera, NPR.

Context of mourning and talks

The incident comes as Iran observes multi-day funerals for slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in a US-Israeli strike in February. Hundreds of thousands mourned in Qom and Tehran, with some chanting “KILL TRUMP” Source: CNA. Meanwhile, fragile peace negotiations between the US and Iran have been paused during the mourning period Source: CNN. US President Donald Trump warned Iran to make a deal or face consequences Source: NPR.

Strait of Hormuz tensions

Tehran has insisted that vessels must use its approved routes through the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s oil once passed Source: NPR. On Sunday, the IRGC warned it had deployed patrol boats to block the “Omani route” Source: CNN. Despite the attack, 108 vessels crossed the strait over the weekend, according to maritime tracking data Source: CNN, NPR.