Incidents in the Strait of Hormuz
Three oil tankers were attacked this Tuesday in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important routes for global hydrocarbon trade, according to the British Army. The events raise regional tension and put maritime traffic at risk in that passage that connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.
The British Maritime Trade Operations Agency detailed that one of the ships, which was transporting liquefied natural gas off the coast of Oman, caught fire after being hit by a projectile. Two other ships were also hit, one of them by a drone. The authorities reported only material damage and confirmed that there were no injuries.
Iranian state television claimed that the gas ship was attacked after ignoring warnings about the shipping route, although Tehran did not officially claim responsibility. For its part, Qatar condemned the attack against one of its oil tankers and held Iran legally responsible, considering that the action violates international law and the safety of navigation.
The attacks occur as the United States seeks to resume negotiations with Iran to normalize transit through the strait, limit Iran’s nuclear program and reach an agreement to end the regional conflict. However, talks remain suspended during the funeral ceremonies for Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who died at the start of the war.
The Strait of Hormuz concentrates under normal conditions about 20% of the oil and natural gas sold in the world. The new incidents revive fears of a military escalation that could affect international markets and stability in the Middle East.
