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A tanker was struck by an unknown projectile in its port bow off the coast of Oman, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) announced on June 13.
The incident took place a day earlier around six nautical miles east of Oman, UKMTO said in an advisory notice, adding that all crew members aboard the vessel are safe and there has been no reported environmental impact.
The organization, a detachment of the Royal Navy, also noted that the tanker is continuing its journey towards its next port of call while authorities investigate the incident.
Just hours before the attack was reported the United States Central Command announced in a statement that Iran had launched multiple one-way attack drones in what it described as “an attempt to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”
“U.S. forces have downed all of them in recent hours as traffic flow through the strait continues unimpeded. The international trade corridor remains open for transit,” the command said in the brief statement which was posted to X.
The escalation came despite strong indications that the U.S. and Iran could sign a deal to end the war which broke out last February within 24 hours.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the deal was scheduled to be signed on June 14 and that the Strait of Hormuz would be immediately “open to all” after it is signed.
“The Deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow, and immediately after it is signed, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN TO ALL,” he said in a post on Truth Social.
“At the appropriate time, when all is calm, we will go in and get the Nuclear Dust, buried deep under the powerful sunken granite mountains,” he added, referring to the hundreds of kilograms of highly enriched uranium that Iran possesses.
“We look forward to working with Iran, and the entire Middle East, long into the future. Hopefully, this process will all work out quickly, easily, and smoothly. If it doesn’t, we have the ultimate alternative, hopefully never to be used again!” he concluded.
Trump’s statement, however, ran counter to Iran’s foreign ministry which indicated earlier in the day that the deal would not be signed on June 14.
While a deal with the U.S. is certainly nearing, Iran is clearly keeping its finger on the trigger, and doing so for a good reason. The Islamic Republic has been deceived by the Trump administration more than once before amid talks.
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oil smuggling is big business. lloyds of london is probably also sneaking oil globally. us navy also acts as guides ? but gets caught too