An unidentified projectile damaged the engine room of a commercial vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, killing one crew member. According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the Omani Coast Guard is assisting the other crew members while authorities investigate the incident.
No environmental damage was reported following the attack, China Global Television Network (CGTN) reports.
Iran, meanwhile, said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the United States meets the terms of the interim agreement. Tehran is demanding the lifting of the naval blockade and sanctions, as well as the unfreezing of Iranian assets.
Against this backdrop, the US president issued a warning to Oman, which is directly involved in talks with Iran.
“If Oman gets in our way, we’ll bomb the s** out of them,”* the US president told Fox News.
Iran, for its part, warned that it could shift to a more offensive military strategy if diplomatic efforts fail. An Iranian official said Tehran was prepared to launch a “timely and precise” military attack to break the US naval blockade.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan urged Trump not to abandon diplomacy. According to Ankara, negotiations remain the preferred way to resolve the conflict, and Turkey is prepared to support efforts aimed at reaching a peaceful settlement.
The prospects for restoring normal commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remain uncertain. The waterway is a major route for global oil and gas shipments, meaning any further escalation could directly affect international shipping and energy markets.
Read also: A Chinese cruise ship carrying 4,600 passengers has set off on its maiden voyage
