Accra:Strait of Hormuz A tanker caught fire after being struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on Sunday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the master of the outbound tanker noted that the vessel was hit on its port side, which led to the fire onboard. Fortunately, the crew was reported to be safe, though the extent of the damage and any potential environmental impacts are yet to be determined.

Authorities are currently investigating the incident, and vessels in the area have been advised to proceed with caution. This event occurred shortly after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that an oil supertanker had struck a naval mine and exploded while attempting to leave the Strait of Hormuz through an unauthorized southern route.

The IRGC described the vessel as capable of carrying approximately 2 million barrels of oil and noted that it had turned off its navigation systems before attempting to navigate this critical shipping route. Iran has previously closed the waterway and threatened to target vessels not adhering to designated routes or lacking permission to transit the strait.

The situation follows ongoing tensions between the US and Iran, including a conflict initiated by the US and Israel on February 28, which resulted in over 3,000 deaths according to Tehran. Although a ceasefire was reached in April, further US strikes on Iranian sites have occurred amid stalled negotiations despite a framework agreement signed in June. These discussions remain deadlocked, primarily due to disagreements over navigation in the strategic waterway.