Two tankers were attacked while crossing the Strait of Hormuz, according to the British Maritime Trade Operations Authority, in the latest threat to shipping traffic in the strategic waterway.
In the first attack, the authority said that the captain reported that the tanker was “struck by an unspecified projectile while it was sailing out of the strait, which led to a small fire and a power outage on board.”
She added, "The fire has been extinguished, and the ship continues its voyage," noting that there were no reports of injuries or environmental impact.
Hours later, a crude oil tanker reported being hit by an “unidentified projectile” east of Oman, also without any casualties among crew members or any environmental damage, according to the British Authority.
The authority stated that the authorities are investigating these incidents.
The Strait of Hormuz, which was a passage for about a fifth of the world's energy supplies, has become at the heart of the conflict that the United States and Israel sparked in late February by launching strikes against Iran.
Since then, the Islamic Republic has been obstructing navigation in the strait and firing at ships it accuses of crossing unauthorized routes, while Washington is imposing a blockade on Iranian ports in response.
In another context, Baghdad announced on Friday that it had obtained an American exemption from the sanctions allowing Iranian airlines, with the exception of Mahan, to operate dozens of flights daily to and from Najaf airport, days after a similar exemption was granted to Iraqi Airlines.
The office of the Iraqi Prime Minister, Ali Faleh al-Zaidi, said that the agreement came within the framework of the government’s efforts to resume air traffic and facilitate travel for visitors, patients, tourists and students, and after a series of contacts and follow-ups with the concerned parties.
The Prime Minister appreciated what he described as the US government's "positive response" to the Iraqi efforts and its cooperation in granting the requested exception, considering that dialogue and diplomatic channels contributed to finding practical solutions to the issue.
Al-Zaidi said that air traffic “does not merely represent transport traffic between two airports,” pointing out its importance to patients, visitors, and families, in addition to its role in tourism, the economy, and community communication.
The United States accuses the Iranian airline Mahan Air of transporting members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, as well as weapons and drones.
Last week, Iraqi Airways announced the resumption of its flights to Iranian airports via Najaf International Airport, after obtaining a special American exception.
The new agreement came after restrictions on air traffic between Iraq and Iran against the backdrop of US sanctions related to the Iranian aviation sector.
The leaders of the Group of Seven agreed on Friday to pump up to 100 million barrels of diesel and crude oil from their reserves into the markets during the next four months, in a move praised by US President Donald Trump, who announced that he would not impose a ban on diesel exports after he had threatened it.
According to a statement by the group’s countries, “large” quantities of diesel will be put on the market during the next twenty days, without ruling out “discussing the possibility” of releasing additional stocks.
