A projectile struck a commercial tanker traveling through the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman early on Tuesday, causing a fire on the vessel in the region's critical maritime gateway.
According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center, the hit occurred near Limah, Oman, impacting the port side of the southbound tanker.
The agency reported that authorities are investigating the incident, noting there were no reports of casualties or environmental damage.
Iranian television reported that the liquefied natural gas tanker came under attack after ignoring warnings, though Tehran did not directly claim responsibility for the assault.
Meanwhile, two anonymous US officials told Axios that Iran's military fired at least two missiles at commercial ships, with a second vessel also suffering significant damage but no casualties.
Hossein Royvaran, a Tehran-based analyst, suggested that the tanker might have entered a restricted zone.
He explained the situation to Al Jazeera, detailing that the vessel could have disrupted local military operations.
"The area near Oman is likely full of mines," said Royvaran.
The analyst indicated that the movement of the commercial ships could have posed a direct risk to the personnel working in the waters.
"There is a possibility that these ships headed in directions where Iranian teams in that area are clearing mines, and the ships' movement might have threatened those teams," Royvaran added.
Tehran has repeatedly declared that only its approved route through the Strait of Hormuz is safe, and it is suspected of attacking other ships that have used another route close to the Omani shore.
Approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and natural gas passed through this waterway before the US-Israel war on Iran began in late February.
Diplomatic talks between Iran and the United States regarding a permanent end to the war appear to be suspended.
The freeze remains in place until after the burial of Iran's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 at the start of the conflict.
Mourners honored Khamenei on Tuesday following the transfer of his body overnight to the Shia seminary city of Qom.
