As military tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate, armed attacks and explosions targeting tankers have raised alarms in the global energy market near the Hormuz Strait, the world's largest oil transport route.
According to Reuters, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on August 1 that a tanker navigating approximately 20 kilometers northeast of Lima, Oman, was struck by an unidentified projectile.
The attack severely damaged the vessel's engine room, rendering it unable to operate. While there were no reported casualties, a separate underwater explosion was reported shortly after, 39 kilometers northeast of Kasab, further heightening maritime security concerns.
The incident occurred in a critical passage connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Since a military confrontation with the U.S. and Israel began in February, Iran has asserted control over the strait, conducting mine-laying and missile attacks against commercial vessels that do not comply with its directives.
U.S.-Iran relations are deteriorating rapidly. The White House announced in July that Iran's continued attacks on commercial tankers under the pretext of controlling the strait violated the freedom of navigation, leading to the nullification of a ceasefire memorandum from June. Subsequently, the U.S. military reactivated maritime blockade measures through U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
In response, Iran's Supreme National Security Council stated, "If the U.S. blockade continues, we will counter with major maritime blockades, including in the Hormuz Strait."
Notably, this tanker attack coincides with reports that the U.S. and Israel are preparing for large-scale joint airstrikes on Iran's key energy infrastructure, including refineries and power plants, over the weekend of August 1-2.
Foreign media have expressed concerns that if the U.S.-Israel strikes on energy facilities materialize, Iran could launch significant retaliatory attacks, potentially leading to a complete blockade of the Hormuz Strait and triggering a third oil shock that would severely impact the global economy.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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