Published on •Updated
One person has been killed and three were injured after a ship was struck in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to Iranian authorities, as Iran and the United States continue to clash over the strategic waterway.
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“A merchant vessel was struck around 5:00 am (0130 GMT) this morning off the coasts of Hengam and Qeshm islands. One person was killed and three others were injured,” Qeshm city governor Amir Teymouri said, according to state TV. Teymouri did not specify the origin of the strike.
Qeshm is the largest island in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil and gas transit chokepoint that has been at the centre of tensions between Washington and Tehran since late February.
The UKMTO maritime agency on Sunday said it had received a report that a vessel had been struck by an “unknown projectile” while transiting the Strait.
It later reported that a fire had broken out onboard the ship and that local authorities were helping evacuate the crew.
“Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO whilst authorities are investigating,” the agency added.
Additional sources • AFP
