Three tankers hit in latest attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, British military says

Three oil tankers sustained damage in attacks Tuesday in the Strait of Hormuz, the British military reported, marking the most vessels hit in a single day since late April.

The assaults occurred in a waterway vital for global fuel shipments and central to ongoing negotiations aimed at permanently ending the war between the U.S. and Iran. The fresh attacks raised concerns about choking off traffic in the strait at a time when nations hoped to normalize shipping practices and alleviate the global economic strain caused by the war.

One of the struck tankers, a liquefied natural gas carrier, caught fire off the coast of Oman. Iranian state television reported that this tanker was attacked after ignoring warnings but did not claim responsibility for the assault. The other two tankers were also hit; one was struck by a drone. While both sustained damage, no injuries were reported, and at least one vessel continued its journey.

Tehran, which has previously asserted that only its approved routes through the strait are safe, is suspected of targeting ships using alternative routes near the Omani shore. The U.S. Central Command has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the incidents. Talks between the U.S. and Iran aimed at fully reopening the strait and addressing Tehran's nuclear program are reportedly on hold until after the burial of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died at the beginning of the war.