A trade vessel was reportedly struck by a projectile while transiting through the Strait of Hormuz near Oman’s coast. This incident was reported to the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and occurred overnight on Tuesday.
UKMTO provided limited details, noting the vessel was hit by an ‘unknown projectile’ at about 2 a.m. local time, 23 miles northeast of Al Khasab, Oman. The name of the vessel, its flag, and details of any injuries were not disclosed.
The British maritime security firm Ambrey confirmed the vessel suffered damage but did not provide further details.
“A ship has been damaged,” a representative from Ambrey stated. “Details about the extent of the damage are currently limited.”
Amid these developments, conflicting reports have surfaced regarding Iran’s participation in peace talks with the U.S. This week, President Donald Trump stated that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and denuclearize Iran was ‘imminent.’ However, Iran has denied any talks with the U.S., maintaining that discussions involve only Oman.
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said on Tuesday, “All parties are engaged in mediation and are pursuing a diplomatic solution.” Yet, a spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry insisted on Monday that Tehran was not negotiating with the U.S.
President Trump expressed frustration over Iran’s public denials despite ongoing communications. He emphasized that discussions with Tehran officials were occurring, contradicting their public statements.
“They ask for a meeting and then deny what’s happening,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. He further commented during an Oval Office event, “We’re in talks; it’s a big deal. They sometimes deny it, yet they spend hours together talking.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Anders Hagstrom covers national politics and major breaking news events for Fox News Digital.