A tanker was struck yesterday, Monday, by an unknown projectile off the coast of Oman, in the Strait of Hormuz, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) announced.

“A tanker reported that it was struck by an unknown projectile on its port side, causing a fire to break out as it was sailing south,” the UKMTO said in a statement, adding, however, that there were no injuries to the vessel’s crew and no environmental pollution resulting from the incident.

The attack took place 8 nautical miles (14 kilometers) east of Lima, in the Sultanate of Oman.

A tanker traveling off the coast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz has caught on fire after being struck by a projectile. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, though Iran is suspected of attacking at least two other vessels in the area in recent days.…

— The Associated Press (@AP) July 7, 2026

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Commercial shipping traffic has dropped dramatically due to the war in the Middle East since March 1, when Iran effectively closed this vital sea lane in retaliation for the U.S.-Israeli attack that began on February 28. In response, the U.S. imposed a blockade on Iranian ports in the Gulf.

International shipping resumed after the memorandum of understanding was signed by the presidents of the U.S. and Iran on June 17, in anticipation of negotiations for a definitive end to the war. However, Tehran reiterates—despite Washington’s opposition—that there will be no return to the status quo ante, the pre-war situation, when passage was free, while threatening ships that attempt to bypass the only route it allows, along the Iranian coast.

In late June, two ships were struck by missiles of unknown origin—the attacks were attributed to Tehran by the U.S. military, which bombed Iran two days later. The Islamic Republic retaliated by launching missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles against its neighbors in the Gulf, particularly Kuwait and Bahrain. The parties then reached an agreement and suspended hostilities.

The Strait of Hormuz lies on the main maritime route connecting the oil-producing countries of the Middle East with the rest of the world, above all with Asian markets.

In 2024, approximately 20 million barrels of crude oil passed through it daily, or nearly 20% of the liquid oil consumed globally, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).