Vessel strike near Qeshm Island puts Iran-Gulf shipping talks on hold
Iranian state media reported one death and four injuries after a cargo vessel was struck in the Strait of Hormuz, while Oman postponed planned regional talks on managing shipping.
An Iranian cargo vessel was struck off Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, with one person reportedly killed and four wounded, according to Iranian state media.
Iranian authorities blamed a “terrorist enemy” for the attack, but responsibility has not been established. A UK Maritime Trade Operations monitor separately reported that a vessel was hit by a projectile and suffered a severe fire, although it was unclear whether the reports concerned the same incident.
The strike came as commercial shipping activity in the Strait of Hormuz remained low amid heightened threats around key regional waterways. Iran has proposed charging transit fees and said some routes would pass through Iranian and Omani waters.
Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said planned talks between Iran and Gulf states had been postponed “in the interests of consensus”. The meeting was intended to involve regional foreign ministers, with Iraq confirming plans to attend and Bahrain declining.
An Iranian foreign ministry official said the postponement followed a request from some regional countries. A Gulf official also said Saudi Arabia had proposed amendments to the Iran-Oman agreement, citing concerns about its longer-term implications for other Gulf Cooperation Council states.
