Qatar has accused Iran of launching a drone strike on a liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker in the Strait of Hormuz as hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered in the Iranian holy city of Qom to honour the late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Qatari LNG tanker, Al Rekayyat, was struck overnight, triggering a fire in its engine room, according to Qatari authorities. Although all crew members were reported safe and were being evacuated, maritime security officials warned the blaze could trigger a major explosion if not quickly contained.
A second vessel, a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker believed to be the Wedyan, was also damaged off the coast of Oman. The cause of the incident was not immediately clear.
A distress call reviewed by Reuters captured the captain of the Al Rekayyat reporting that the vessel had been hit by a drone on its port side, causing a fire and heavy smoke in the engine room. The full extent of the damage remained unclear.
Qatar’s foreign ministry condemned the strike, describing it as a serious threat to international shipping and global energy supplies. Foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari accused Iran of violating international law and said Tehran bore full responsibility for the attack and any resulting consequences.
Iran did not immediately respond to the allegations or claim responsibility for the strike. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said preliminary assessments indicated Iran had targeted the two commercial vessels.
The attacks marked the first reported security incidents in the Strait of Hormuz since nationwide mourning began following Khamenei’s death last week, underscoring persistent tensions along one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes.
Meanwhile, mourning ceremonies continued across Iran as the coffins of Khamenei and members of his family were carried through the streets of Qom. Large crowds waved flags, held banners and chanted slogans pledging revenge for the slain leader, while some displayed signs directed at US President Donald Trump.
The procession followed another massive funeral gathering in Tehran on Monday. Iranian authorities said Khamenei’s body would later be taken to Shi’ite holy sites in Iraq before returning to Iran for burial.
The tanker attacks came despite an interim ceasefire reached last month between Iran, the United States and Israel, which paused hostilities for 60 days to allow negotiations on a longer-term agreement. Indirect talks held in Qatar last week ended without any significant breakthrough.
Trump renewed pressure on Tehran on Monday, warning that the United States was prepared to resume military action if negotiations failed. In response, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said negotiations on a permanent agreement could not proceed while military threats continued, urging Washington to honour the ceasefire framework.
Oil prices rose about one per cent following news of the tanker incidents, reflecting renewed concerns over the security of energy shipments through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Goodness Anunobi
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