Two commercial tankers came under attack in waters near Oman overnight, according to maritime security authorities, as Iran issued fresh warnings that U.S. military actions would result in the closure of vital shipping routes through the region.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre, a British Navy-backed organization, reported Saturday that one tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile that damaged its engine room. The vessel, located 11 nautical miles northeast of Oman, lost power and is no longer under command. The regional coast guard has been notified, and no casualties or environmental damage were reported.
A second tanker in the same area witnessed a large splash and explosion in close proximity to its position, UKMTO said.
The incidents come as Iran continues to threaten Western shipping interests in response to U.S. military pressure. Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned that continued U.S. naval blockades and military strikes would force Iran to tighten its grip on critical maritime passages.
“The continuation of the naval blockade and warmongering by the U.S. regime will not only lock the Strait of Hormuz tighter, but will also shut down other straits and chokepoints,” WANA news agency quoted Zolghadr as saying. “The price for this will be paid by the global economy, the energy market, and American voters.”
Conflict Intensifies After Ceasefire Collapse
The attacks follow the effective breakdown of a temporary ceasefire that was established after the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17. The two sides have failed to bridge differences on critical issues including Iran’s nuclear program and control over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that carried approximately one-fifth of global oil supplies before hostilities began on February 28.
Separately, Kuwait reported that its air defenses intercepted hostile drone attacks launched by Iran. The assaults mark an expansion of the conflict, which has already touched Egyptian territory this week when a drone strike hit two ships at the Mediterranean port of Damietta on Thursday, triggering a fire.
The U.S. completed what it described as a “heavy wave” of strikes against Iran over the past week, targeting dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps installations. Iran retaliated by attacking U.S. military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.
Fresh U.S. Strikes Reportedly Imminent
According to The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed U.S. officials, President Donald Trump has ordered the military to prepare for another round of attacks on Iran that could commence as soon as this weekend. The officials cautioned that Trump could cancel the planned strikes if diplomatic progress is made.
“We will be hitting them very hard,” The Associated Press quoted Trump as saying Friday during a televised cabinet meeting at Camp David. “And you know at some point, they’re going to say, ‘We just can’t take it anymore.'”
Axios reported that Trump is seriously weighing strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure in the coming days, though final orders have not been issued.
The U.S. reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian vessels on July 13, preventing ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports. Iran’s threats to close additional maritime chokepoints have raised concerns about the Bab el-Mandeb strait at the southern end of the Red Sea, particularly following recent strikes by Iran-backed Houthi fighters in Yemen and the drone attack in Egypt.
Oil Markets React
Energy markets registered modest gains Friday amid the escalating tensions. West Texas Intermediate futures rose more than 1% to close at $84.67 per barrel, while Brent crude, the international benchmark, also advanced more than 1% to settle at $90.12.
Despite Friday’s gains, both benchmarks fell more than 5% for the week following a Monday selloff driven by hopes that the Middle East conflict would de-escalate.
Source: www.cnbc.com — https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/01/tankers-near-oman-come-under-fire.html
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