Iranian cargo ship hit near Qeshm before Strait of Hormuz shipping talks

Cairo,UPDATED: Sep 13, 2026 12:26 IST

An Iranian commercial vessel was hit by a projectile early Sunday near Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, killing one crew member and injuring four others, according to Iranian state media. The incident came a day before Tehran planned to brief regional countries on its disputed efforts, along with Oman, to manage shipping traffic through the strategic waterway.

Iranian authorities said the vessel was carrying a crew of 10 and that the projectile had not yet been identified. The strike took place amid continuing tensions around the strait, where commercial traffic remains low and concerns over shipping security have pushed up global oil, natural gas and related product prices.

State-run IRNA quoted the governor of Qeshm as blaming a "terrorist enemy" for the attack. He said the person killed was among the cargo vessel's 10-member crew and added that officials were still trying to determine what kind of projectile hit the ship.

Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations monitor said a vessel had been struck by a projectile while transiting the strait, but gave no further details. There was no immediate statement from the US military, which has previously struck Iranian-flagged vessels as it maintains a blockade of Iranian ports, while also facing a fresh threat in recent days from Iranian ballistic missiles launched at its warships.

Qeshm Island lies about 22 kilometres from the port city of Bandar Abbas and is central to Iran's assertion of control over shipping through the strait. The latest strike came as tensions continued around the waterway, which had been seen as an international passage before the US and Israel launched the war on February 28.

The pressure has spread beyond the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen are also putting pressure on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea, an important alternative shipping route. Although the Houthis have said they are targeting only neighbouring Saudi Arabia, which backs Yemen's internationally recognised government, markets remain wary.

On Saturday, Iran said foreign ministers from regional countries would meet to discuss efforts by Iran and Oman, which lies on the other side of the Strait of Hormuz, to manage shipping there. Bahrain has already said it will not attend, and it was not clear which other countries would take part.

Iran has said that even if it reaches an agreement with Oman on the strait, that would not mean the waterway would reopen to shipping. "The waterway would be opened up on the condition that the US will terminate its blockade," Iran's president told broadcaster India Today TV on Saturday.

Commercial ship traffic through the strait remains low as attacks continue. Iran has said it is interested in charging ships transit fees and has also stated that traffic entering the Persian Gulf would pass through Iranian waters, while the outbound route would pass partly through Iranian waters and partly through Oman's. The latest strike, the regional meeting plan and the continuing disruption together underline the strain on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

With PTI Inputs

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