Strait of Hormuz shipping at near standstill as tanker hit reported
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is nearly halted after a tanker was struck, while Qatar and Pakistan pursue diplomatic solutions.
Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has ground to a near standstill, with hundreds of vessels and oil tankers still stranded amid Iranian attacks on ships that sail without prior coordination.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization (UKMTO) said on Thursday that it had received a report of an oil tanker being hit in the strait. The British military-run monitoring agency said local authorities reported the vessel was struck by an unknown projectile on Tuesday in waters between Oman and Iran, causing a fire onboard. The crew was reported safe, and no environmental damage has been recorded so far.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis are intensifying. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani was in Tehran on Thursday as part of Qatar's push to mediate between the United States and Iran. Qatar's foreign ministry said talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi focused on reducing escalation and discussed a proposed Iran-Oman plan to allow safe passage for ships through the strait and clear the vital waterway of mines.
Pakistan also said it was continuing diplomatic efforts. Field Marshal Asim Munir recently visited Tehran with the aim of reviving a June memorandum of understanding to reopen the strait, according to Pakistan's foreign ministry.