UKMTO says tanker hit by unknown projectile east of Oman's Limah; no casualties reported
Limah, July 7
A tanker reported to be on fire after being hit by an unknown projectile on the port side, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency.
In a post on X on Tuesday, UKMTO said that no casualties or environmental impact were reported. The incident occurred 8 nautical miles east of Oman's Limah whilst the ship was travelling southbound.
The authorities are investigating the matter, as per the agency. The UKMTO, in its report, advised the vessels to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to the agency.
The incident is reported as Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei on Tuesday sharply criticised Germany over remarks by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on the Strait of Hormuz, accusing Berlin of complicity in military aggression against Iran.
In a post shared on X, Baghaei described Wadephul's comments as "utterly shameful" and alleged that Germany bore responsibility for supporting actions against Iran.
"The German Foreign Minister's rhetoric on the Strait of Hormuz is utterly shameful -- a grotesque distortion of reality that reeks of Mephistopheles in Goethe's Faust," Baghaei said.
His remarks came after German FM Wadephul on Monday said that Iran should bear the cost of clearing mines from international shipping routes, accusing Tehran of unlawfully laying mines in a key maritime corridor, Al Jazeera reported.
"We do not need to offer Tehran anything at all; quite the contrary: Iran has unlawfully mined an international shipping lane," Wadephul had told a newspaper, Al Jazeera reported.
Earlier on July 4, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi warned that the Strait of Hormuz is not a theatre for the military display of extra-regional powers.
Gharibabadi, reacting to Joint statement by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron on the Strait of Hormuz, said that crisis-makers will be held accountable.
In a post on X, he said, "The Strait of Hormuz is not a theatre for the military display of extra-regional powers. Iran, as the responsible power and guarantor of the Strait's security, warns with sensitivity to any military movement in this waterway. The security of Hormuz lies with the coastal states; the crisis-makers will be held accountable for the consequences of their adventurism; this is a serious warning."
The joint statement in question said that Oman agreed to work with the United Kingdom and France to ensure that its sovereign territorial waters are safe for navigation.
"The Strait of Hormuz is a vital artery for the global economy. Restoring safe transit for ships of all nations through the Strait is a matter of global concern. The Sultanate of Oman has agreed to work with the United Kingdom and France to ensure that its sovereign territorial waters are safe for navigation," the statement read.
Meanwhile, on July 2, Iran had strongly criticised the US-led regional security summit in Bahrain, rejecting Western attempts to allegedly dictate security frameworks in the Persian Gulf and the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on X, Gharibabadi dismissed both the legitimacy of the military summit and the authority of the American command structure in the region, asserting that "Hormuz is defined under Iran's command, not CENTCOM." He maintained that a military summit in Bahrain cannot establish "legal order and security for the Persian Gulf".
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is getting serious now. Unknown projectiles hitting tankers, Iran accusing Germany, US military posturing... Why can't these countries just sit down and talk? Innocent sailors and global trade suffer. India should offer to mediate, we have good relations with everyone in the region.
Look at the hypocrisy. Germany says Iran mined shipping lanes, but nobody questions why extra-regional powers keep sending warships there. Strait of Hormuz is right next to Iran's coast. You don't park your tanks in your neighbor's driveway and then complain about tension. Iran has a point. 😤
As an expat living in Dubai, this is worrying. My husband's company ships through Hormuz every week. India's interests are huge here - billions of dollars in trade, thousands of Indian workers in Gulf countries. The Indian Navy needs to be actively patrolling these waters, not just watching from sidelines.
I respect Iran's stance about regional security, but hitting civilian tankers is unacceptable. India is investing in Chabahar port in Iran and also deepening ties with Gulf nations. This instability hurts everyone. Hope diplomatic channels work before things get out of hand. Prayers for the crew, thank God no casualties. 🕊️
This is classic great power rivalry playing out in our neighborhood. Western countries want to control the sea lanes, Iran wants to assert sovereignty. India's smart move would be to push for a regional maritime security framework involving Iran, Oman, Saudi, UAE, and India. We're the only ones who can talk to all sides.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.