Strait of Hormuz Crisis Deepens as Ship Seized Near UAE, Cargo Vessel Sinks Off Oman Amid Iran Tensions
Fresh turmoil erupted around the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz on Thursday after a vessel anchored near the United Arab Emirates was reportedly hijacked and redirected toward Iranian waters, while another cargo ship operating near Oman sank following an attack that triggered a massive onboard fire.
The twin incidents have further heightened instability in one of the world’s most sensitive maritime corridors.
Authorities have not yet officially identified the groups or forces responsible for either episode.
However, the developments came at a time when senior Iranian leaders once again asserted Tehran’s authority over the Strait of Hormuz and defended what they described as Iran’s right to intercept oil tankers allegedly linked to the United States.
The worsening security situation around the narrow sea route has become a major obstacle in ongoing diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran aimed at reducing tensions and ending the prolonged regional conflict.
Before the outbreak of war, nearly 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply moved through the Strait of Hormuz, making any disruption there a direct threat to global energy markets.
In recent weeks, uncertainty in the region has already driven fuel prices sharply higher worldwide.
The latest maritime escalation unfolded as U.S. President Donald Trump held high-level discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
According to the White House, both leaders agreed that international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz must continue without obstruction.
Tensions in the waterway had already intensified days earlier after American military forces reportedly opened fire on Iranian oil tankers, accusing them of attempting to violate a blockade imposed on Iranian ports.
The confrontation significantly increased fears of a wider regional maritime conflict.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre stated that it had received reports about a ship being seized by unidentified individuals while it was anchored approximately 38 nautical miles northeast of Fujairah, a key UAE oil-export hub that has repeatedly faced threats and attacks during the Iran conflict.
British maritime authorities did not reveal the identity of the captured vessel but confirmed that investigations were underway.
Military officials from the United Kingdom further indicated that the ship appeared to be moving in the direction of Iranian territorial waters.
Meanwhile, Indian officials confirmed that an India-flagged cargo vessel sank near the coast of Oman after an assault aboard the ship ignited a destructive fire.
The vessel had reportedly been travelling from Somalia toward Sharjah in the UAE when the attack occurred.
According to Mukesh Mangal, a senior representative in India’s shipping ministry, the targeted vessel, identified as the Haji Ali, came under attack on Wednesday.
He stated that all 14 Indian crew members onboard were successfully rescued by Oman’s coast guard personnel and were reported safe.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs strongly condemned the attack, describing the repeated targeting of civilian cargo ships and commercial sailors as “completely unacceptable.”
However, Indian authorities stopped short of naming the party responsible for the assault.
At the same time, Iranian semi-official media outlets claimed that Chinese vessels had begun moving through the Strait of Hormuz under newly introduced Iranian maritime guidelines.
Reports suggested that Tehran agreed to facilitate the movement of several Chinese ships following diplomatic requests made by China’s foreign minister and Beijing’s ambassador stationed in Iran.
The timing of those passages reportedly coincided with Trump’s arrival in China.
The seizure of the ship near the UAE also took place only hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he had secretly travelled to the UAE during the recent Israeli-American conflict involving Iran. UAE authorities, however, quickly rejected the claim.
The UAE formally established diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020 under a normalisation agreement that drew sharp criticism from Iran.
Over the years, Tehran has repeatedly accused Israel of maintaining intelligence and military operations within Emirati territory.
Yoel Guzansky, a senior analyst at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, suggested Netanyahu’s public remarks about the alleged visit were likely intended to strengthen political support for his struggling party ahead of upcoming Israeli elections.
Guzansky noted that the current regional dynamics reveal an extraordinary level of cooperation between Israel and certain Arab nations, even during wartime.
He described the situation as a reflection of the increasingly complex political landscape in the Middle East.
He further explained that the UAE appears eager to maintain strategic and security cooperation with Israel while simultaneously distancing itself from Netanyahu’s government, particularly because many Emiratis strongly oppose Israeli military actions in Gaza.
According to Guzansky, the Emirati leadership is carefully attempting to separate practical defence coordination from political endorsement of Israel’s current administration.
He previously served within Israel’s national security establishment under the prime minister’s office.
Meanwhile, Iran reportedly informed mediators that it would refuse to resume negotiations with Washington unless several demands were accepted, including compensation for wartime losses and formal international recognition of Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
The claims were reported by Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, citing informed sources.
Analysts believe such demands are highly unlikely to be accepted by the White House because they would effectively grant Tehran official control over one of the world’s most important international shipping lanes — a route that had historically remained open to global maritime traffic before the conflict escalated.
Iranian Vice President Mohammadreza Aref reinforced Tehran’s position on Thursday, declaring on state television that the Strait of Hormuz “belongs to Iran” and insisting the country would never surrender its claim over the strategic passage “under any circumstances.”
In another strongly worded statement, judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir told the state-run Iran Daily newspaper that Tehran possesses both legal and judicial authority to confiscate oil tankers associated with the United States.
He accused Washington of violating international maritime laws and engaging in acts of piracy, although he did not directly mention the vessel seized on Thursday.
Iranian state media also reported that Tehran recently captured several ships, including a tanker identified as the Ocean Koi, accusing it of interfering with Iranian oil exports and threatening national interests.
According to the official Islamic Republic News Agency, the tanker was intercepted in the Gulf of Oman while allegedly transporting Iranian crude oil and was later redirected to Iran’s southern coastline.
The United States had imposed sanctions on the Ocean Koi earlier this year, alleging that it was part of a covert “shadow fleet” involved in transporting Iranian petroleum in violation of international restrictions.
Amid rising tensions, Adm. Brad Cooper, the top American military commander overseeing the Middle East, told lawmakers in Congress that Iran’s military strength had been significantly weakened.
However, he warned that Tehran’s aggressive rhetoric alone was still creating serious disruption in global shipping and insurance markets.
Cooper stated that the United States retains sufficient military capability to permanently secure and reopen the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, including providing naval escorts to commercial ships.
Nevertheless, he said any final decision on further action would depend on policymakers as delicate diplomatic negotiations continue behind the scenes.
