Qatari tanker hit as it travelled through Strait of Hormuz | World News

A Qatari tanker has been hit as it travelled through the Strait of Hormuz, suffering significant damage, Qatar’s foreign ministry has said.

The Al Rekayyat vessel, which was loaded with liquefied natural gas, sent out distress signals calling for aid after it was struck on its port side, a source told the Reuters news agency.

The engine room was on fire and filled with smoke and the crew ​was unable to assess further damage, the source added.

It’s the first time an LNG ship from Qatar – a mediator in the talks between Iran and the US – has been struck since the start of the war in February.

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While the flow of ships through the Strait of Hormuz has increased since it was all but blocked earlier in the war – some 45 ships were detected yesterday across inbound and outbound journeys – today’s incident underscores the persistent risks.

Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari called the incident an “unacceptable attack” on the security of
international navigation and global energy supplies, and a clear violation of international law.

He called on Iran to immediately halt actions ​threatening regional security and maritime navigation, and said Tehran bore
full legal responsibility for the attack and any resulting damage or consequences.

Vessel hit off coast of Oman

The UK’s Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) reported a ship being hit on its port side by an unknown projectile about eight nautical miles east of Limah, Oman.

The UKMTO did not name the vessel but the details appear to match the incident involving the Al Rekayyat.

No casualties or environmental impact were reported, the UKMTO said.

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Indirect talks between the US and Iran ended last week without any public signs of headway towards a lasting peace.

Donald Trump threatened that the US would either reach a deal or “finish the job”.

The US president has been attending the NATO summit in Turkey where Iran was expected to be discussed with alliance members.

Foreign ministers from NATO countries were also set to meet their counterparts from Gulf states to address the stalemate over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

This includes a Franco-British proposal for a multinational maritime mission that ​Iran has so far dismissed.