Iran strikes civilian ship in Strait of Hormuz, reports of damage emerge
Container ship (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
Iran attacked a civilian vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, which is one of the key routes for global maritime shipping, according to CBS News.
The incident occurred off the coast of Oman – a cargo vessel flying the flag of Singapore in the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an unknown projectile.
As a result of the strike, the ship's bridge was damaged, but no one was injured.
The US-approved route for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz runs along the coast of Oman, while Iran demands the use of the northern route.
"Any passage through routes outside the framework designated by PGSA will not be covered by safe passage guarantees and will not be entitled to insurance coverage or related liabilities," said the Tehran-established Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) after the attack.
The authority emphasized that responsibility for passage through unauthorized routes will fall on the vessel's owner, operator, and captain.
Problems in the Strait of Hormuz
On June 20, it became known that Iran had closed the Strait of Hormuz just days after concluding a peace agreement with the US.
On June 22, the US and Iran agreed to establish a special communication line. It was intended to ensure the safe movement of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
At the same time, on June 23, US President Donald Trump stated that the Strait of Hormuz was fully open and that on June 21, more oil was transported through it than ever before.
Also on June 24, the US stated that passage through the strait would be free of charge and that no country would support imposing a fee for it. This was announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
