The tanker was off the Saudi port of Yanbu when it was hit by an unknown projectile, causing a fire on deck, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). No crew members were reported injured, and there were no reports of any spills.
Maritime traffic in both the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf has been affected by the war in Iran, including when Tehran attacked what it describes as pro-US targets in the region. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil trade and the passage connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, has been the subject of alleged blockades at times by both the US and Iran.
Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi will participate in talks in Tehran on Tuesday about the future regulation of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has repeatedly stressed that it wants ships passing through the strait to pay a fee. This has angered US President Donald Trump, who wants the waterway to be open as before the war. Last week, Trump threatened to "bomb the shit" out of Oman.
