Authorities said Thursday that a ship anchored off the United Arab Emirates had been seized and taken toward Iranian waters, while an Indian-flagged cargo vessel sank after an attack near Oman. The incidents marked the latest escalation around the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption normally passes, amid mounting tensions between Iran and the United States. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center said it received reports that a vessel anchored about 38 nautical miles northeast of Fujairah had been boarded by unauthorized personnel.

Authorities said Thursday that a ship anchored off the United Arab Emirates had been seized and taken toward Iranian waters, while an Indian-flagged cargo vessel sank after an attack near Oman. The incidents marked the latest escalation around the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption normally passes, amid mounting tensions between Iran and the United States. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center said it received reports that a vessel anchored about 38 nautical miles northeast of Fujairah had been boarded by unauthorized personnel. British military authorities monitoring the region said the ship was moving toward Iranian waters. The vessel was not immediately identified and no group claimed responsibility for the seizure. Separately, Indian authorities said an Indian-flagged cargo ship, Haji Ali, sank off the coast of Oman after an attack sparked a fire onboard while the vessel was en route from Somalia to the UAE port of Sharjah. Mukesh Mangal, a senior official in India’s shipping ministry, said all 14 Indian crew members were rescued safely by Oman’s coast guard. India’s foreign ministry condemned the attack, calling continued assaults on commercial shipping and civilian mariners “unacceptable,” but did not identify those responsible. Iranian officials on Thursday reiterated Tehran’s claim to authority over the strait. Iranian Vice President Mohammadreza Aref said the waterway “belongs to Iran” and would not be surrendered “at any price,” according to state media. Iran’s judiciary spokesperson also defended Tehran’s right to seize vessels linked to the United States, accusing Washington of violating maritime law through its recent military actions in the Gulf. The White House said U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed during talks that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to international shipping. The latest incidents follow recent confrontations in the Gulf, including U.S. action against Iranian tankers that Washington said were attempting to breach a U.S. blockade around Iranian ports. Analysts say the ongoing instability is increasing pressure on global energy markets and raising shipping insurance costs as commercial operators grow increasingly wary of passing through the region.  

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