Oil Tanker Hit by Projectile in Strait of Hormuz as US-Iran Tensions Escalate, UKMTO Says
ISLAMABAD: The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported that an oil tanker was struck by a projectile from an unknown direction while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, damaging the vessel’s bridge but causing no injuries to the crew.
According to Reuters, the incident follows an attack on a commercial cargo ship on Thursday, further heightening tensions in the strategically vital waterway. In response to the recent security incidents, the Joint Maritime Information Center has raised the regional maritime security threat level for commercial shipping.
UKMTO, the British military organization responsible for monitoring maritime security, said the attack caused damage to the vessel’s control room but resulted in no environmental pollution or oil spill.
U.S. strikes Iran in response to an attack on a commercial ship moving through the Strait of Hormuz, CENTCOM confirms.
"The unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces clearly violated the ceasefire."
"The U.S. military remains present and vigilant to… pic.twitter.com/4ZDaE0yBVX
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 27, 2026
The latest incident comes amid escalating military tensions between the United States and Iran.
Earlier, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had targeted objectives linked to the US military in response to alleged American strikes on Iranian coastal areas. The IRGC argued that the United States used an attack on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz as justification for launching airstrikes against Iranian territory.
Meanwhile, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that American forces carried out strikes on June 26 against Iranian missile and drone storage facilities, as well as coastal radar sites. According to CENTCOM, the operation was conducted in retaliation for an alleged Iranian attack on a commercial vessel passing through the Strait of Hormuz on June 25.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 26, 2026
The U.S. attacked Iran in the middle of negotiations once again.
The failed U.S. President has shown he has no commitment to the principles of negotiation or a ceasefire.
This reckless violation of the ceasefire will, as always, lead to retreat and regret on their part.
The…
— ابراهیم عزیزی (@Ebrahimazizi33) June 26, 2026
CENTCOM said Iran’s “unprovoked aggression” against commercial shipping constituted a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement, adding that US forces remain deployed in the region to monitor the situation and ensure compliance with the terms of the agreement.
According to Reuters, both Washington and Tehran have accused each other of violating the interim peace agreement reached in Switzerland, with each side blaming the other for the latest military actions.
Iranian state television, however, reported that the IRGC had only fired warning shots at vessels that were not using Iran’s designated maritime transit lanes. The report claimed that several ships subsequently sought Iranian authorization before passing through the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran stopped short of officially confirming any direct attack on a specific commercial vessel.
Elsewhere, Bahrain condemned an alleged Iranian drone attack on its territory, describing it as a breach of the interim agreement. Iranian officials, in turn, accused the United States of failing to uphold commitments related to maintaining the ceasefire in Lebanon.
بدون تردید ایران بیشتر از هر طرف دیگری، دغدغه امنیت جمعی منطقه را دارد. اینکه شورای همکاری خلیج فارس، تصور کند راه حل رفع این دغدغه، پناه بردن به بزرگترین ناقض امنیت است، خود نقض غرض است و طنزی تلخ و نشانهای مأیوسکننده از عدم درسآموزی از تجربههای تلخ اخیر.
باید از همسایگان…
— Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) June 26, 2026
Iranian National Security Committee Chairman Ebrahim Azizi strongly criticized the US operation, saying Washington had once again attacked Iran during negotiations. In a statement posted on X, he accused the United States of disregarding diplomatic principles and the ceasefire, warning that such actions would ultimately lead to failure.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei also condemned the US strikes, calling them a clear violation of the memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington. He said Iran’s military had carried out defensive operations against US-linked targets in response and urged Gulf states not to allow their territories to be used for attacks against Iran.
Iran signed a ceasefire agreement. We have honored it. If they have disagreements about how the MOU is being applied, they can pick up the phone.
But violence will be met with violence. https://t.co/VWnBS1PWaV
— JD Vance (@JDVance) June 26, 2026
US Vice President JD Vance rejected the accusations, insisting that Washington had fully complied with the ceasefire agreement. He said Iran should raise any concerns through direct communication but warned that any act of violence would be met with a forceful response.
