Iran says it strikes an oil tanker, and other Mideast developments

Iran says it has struck an oil tanker trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, South Korea says it is considering expanding the operations of a naval operation in the Gulf of Aden off the Arabian Peninsula to protect its ships and oil routes, but it won’t send troops to intervene in the Iran war.

Here’s a look at the latest news in the Middle East on Friday. Full coverage can be found here.

Iran says it struck an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran said it struck a Togo-flagged oil tanker, the Trend, for what it called an “illegal attempt” to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the state broadcaster reported, citing the Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The Associated Press could not immediately confirm the report.

The Guard’s navy warned that unauthorized passage through the strait would result in the “destruction” of offending vessels, the broadcaster said. Tehran has asserted control over the waterway since the U.S. and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28.

A monitor overnight reported a ship “security incident” 16 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, which lies on the other side of the strait. The crew was safe and no environmental impact was reported, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said.

It was not clear if the UKMTO report was describing the attack that Iran claimed.

The U.S. military has been guiding some commercial ships through the strait off Oman as the risk of Iranian attacks continues.

More attacks are reported on the strait

Separately, the UKMTO reported that a tanker on the strait was hit by an “unknown projectile,” causing a fire that was later extinguished. The crew was reported safe, with no immediate indication of environmental damage, it said.

The AP could not independently confirm it, and there was no immediate claim from Iran.

The monitor also said another tanker was struck Wednesday by an “unknown projectile” while transiting out of the strait, with the crew reported safe. It was not clear why the report came late.

South Korea says it might expand naval unit in the region

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said his government is considering expanding the operations of a naval unit deployed in the Gulf of Aden off Yemen and Somalia to protect his country’s vessels and oil shipping routes.

But he stressed that South Korea would not take action drawing it into the U.S.-Iran conflict, pushing back on recent pressure from the Trump administration to get more involved. South Korea has deployed the anti-piracy Cheonghae Unit for years.

The growing threat by Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen to shipping in the region has alarmed countries and markets, even though the rebels have said they are only targeting the assets of neighboring Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter.

Lee noted the threat to South Korea’s economy and the need to protect its ships but said “there will be no troop deployment that involves or intervenes in the war. I can state that clearly.”

Italy explores protecting its shipping on the Red Sea

Italy is looking at measures to ensure the safe passage of vessels linked to its national interests through the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said.

He ordered a review of whether Italian military assets already in the region with a European Union operation could be placed under national command if needed, or whether new parliamentary authorization would be required.

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This piece will be updated throughout the day as new developments emerge.

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