Merchant ship struck in Strait of Hormuz, 1 killed, 3 injured: Iran
text_fields
A merchant vessel was struck in the Strait of Hormuz early Sunday, killing one person and injuring three others, Iranian authorities said, as tensions between Tehran and Washington continue to escalate over the strategic waterway.
The vessel was hit at around 5:00 a.m. local time (0130 GMT) off the coasts of Hengam and Qeshm islands, Qeshm city governor Amir Teymouri said, according to Iranian state television. He did not specify the origin of the strike.
Several explosions were reported overnight around Qeshm, the largest island in the Strait of Hormuz.
The deadly incident came a day before a meeting between Iran and Gulf states in Oman, which also borders the strait, to discuss the blockade of the strategically important waterway that is crucial to global oil and gas trade.
Control of the strait has emerged as a major flashpoint in the conflict between Iran and the United States during their six-month war.
In retaliation for attacks by the United States and Israel that began the war on February 28, Iran has blocked the waterway, which had previously remained free and unobstructed before the conflict began.
Iran now requires vessels to obtain authorisation to pass through the strait, citing security and sovereignty concerns, and is considering a mechanism to impose service fees.
Vessels that fail to comply are frequently targeted by Iranian strikes, while the United States has intermittently bombed the Iranian coast in an effort to challenge Tehran's control of the strategic waterway.