One person was killed and three others were injured after a merchant vessel was struck in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, Iranian authorities said, as tensions between Iran and the United States continue to focus on the strategic waterway.
The vessel was hit at about 5am local time, or 0130 GMT, off the coasts of Hengam and Qeshm islands, according to Amir Teymouri, governor of Qeshm city. The governor made the comments to Iranian state television.
“A merchant vessel was struck around 5:00 am (0130 GMT) this morning off the coasts of Hengam and Qeshm islands. One person was killed and three others were injured,” Teymouri said.
He did not identify what caused the strike or say who was responsible.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which monitors maritime activity and issues security alerts to vessels, said on Sunday that it had received a report of a vessel being struck by an “unknown projectile” while travelling through the Strait of Hormuz.
UKMTO later said a fire had broken out aboard the vessel and that local authorities were assisting with the evacuation of its crew. The agency advised ships operating in the area to exercise caution while investigations were underway.
“Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO whilst authorities are investigating,” the agency said.
The incident adds to concerns about maritime safety in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important routes for the transportation of oil and gas. The narrow waterway lies between Iran and Oman and connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Arabian Sea.
Qeshm, Iran’s largest island, is located near the Strait and has strategic importance because of its position close to major shipping routes.
The waterway has been at the centre of tensions between Washington and Tehran since late February. The confrontation has raised concerns among shipping companies, energy markets and governments about the safety of commercial vessels passing through the region.
Any disruption to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz could have wider consequences for global energy supplies because large volumes of crude oil and petroleum products move through the waterway each day.
Authorities had not immediately provided further details about the vessel involved, including its nationality, cargo or the extent of the damage. The cause of the strike and the identity of those responsible remained unclear as investigations continued.
