Qatar blames Iran for striking tanker in Strait of Hormuz​

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Defense &National Security

Defense &National Security

Qatar blames Iran for tanker strike in Strait of Hormuz

Qatar blamed Iran on Tuesday for striking a Qatari-flagged natural liquified gas tanker near the Strait of Hormuz, accusing Tehran of jeopardizing safe passage of vessels through the waterway and breaking international law.

© Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA via AP

“We demand that the Islamic Republic of Iran immediately cease all practices that undermine regional security or threaten the safety of international maritime navigation, & refrain from endangering global energy supplies & the resources of the countries of the region in pursuit of narrow interests,” Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said in a post on social platform X. 

“We hold it fully legally responsible for this attack & for any resulting damages & consequences,” he wrote. 

The strike on the tanker came as massive crowds attended the funeral ceremony for late-Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a late February airstrike. 

Iran has not claimed responsibility to attacking the tanker. 

The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations, which is affiliated with the British Royal Navy, said on Monday a tanker was struck by a projectile, igniting a fire onboard while transiting off the coast of Oman. The organization did not detail which type of projectile struck the ship, which was transiting near the coast of Oman. 

Iranian state media reported Monday night that a Qatari vessel was targeted after ignoring warnings. 

Iran has argued it should maintain the control of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway through which around 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas flow through, and strikes on ships have prompted........

© The Hill