Iranian Seafarer Killed As Unidentified Strike Hits Ship Near Strait Of Hormuz

A merchant vessel was struck in the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports by the Iranian state media. One crew member was killed while several others were wounded. The incident happened a day before the country was scheduled to announce a a plan on how to manage shipping traffic through the waterway.

According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO), an unidentified vessel was hit by an unknown projectile while transiting the strait. Local authorities evacuated the crew members as fire broke out on the vessel. UKMTO did not provide any further details. The U.S. military has also not commented on the incident.

At the start of September, US Central Command announced that it struck three Iranian crude oil carriers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles at a U.S. aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer patrolling the region. The United States continues to enforce a blockade of Iranian ports.

Qeshm Island is located about 14 miles from the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas. The island is important to Tehran for asserting control over shipping traffic through Hormuz.

Iran has reported that foreign ministers from regional countries will meet on Monday to discuss arrangements with Oman for managing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The plan would decide which ships would pass through Iranian and Omani waters. Bahrain has already said that it will not attend the meeting.

Iran and the United States have been at war in the Strait of Hormuz for over six months now. Before the conflict, about 20 million barrels of oil moved through the strait daily. The latest data shows a 90% drop in shipping traffic through the strait as compared to pre-war levels. This has resulted in a steep rise in prices of oil and natural gas, along with other related products.

References: TOI/NDTV