New attack in the Persian Gulf, Iranian ship hit in the Strait of Hormuz

A naval attack in the Strait of Hormuz struck an Iranian commercial ship in the early hours of Sunday, causing one death and several injuries. This is reported by Iranian state media, citing the governor of Qeshm Island who spoke of a "terrorist enemy" without identifying the projectile. The incident occurred one day before a regional meeting convened for Monday in Oman, where Iran intends to outline its plans for managing maritime traffic in the strait.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed the attack on a ship transiting the strait, reporting a fire breaking out on board and the crew's evacuation by local authorities. The episode fits into a context of already heightened tensions after Saudi Arabia temporarily closed a crucial oil pipeline following a drone attack, attributed to Iran-backed militias in Iraq.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime passage between the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, has been at the center of a crisis for months, threatening to strangle global oil trade. The war in the Middle East, which erupted on February 28th with the intervention of the United States and Israel, has progressively closed this waterway, shifting Saudi oil flows to the East-West pipeline across the Arabian Peninsula.

Iran, which controls the northern shore of the strait, has long sought recognition of its authority over transit, proposing tolls for ships. The proposal stipulates that the inbound route into the Persian Gulf pass through Iranian waters, while the outbound route would be shared with Oman. However, Tehran has clarified that any agreement with Oman will not lead to the reopening of the strait until the United States ends its naval blockade of Iranian ports. The situation has further complicated with the advance of Houthi rebels in Yemen, who also threaten the southern alternative route through the Bab el-Mandeb.