Tanker set ablaze after being struck by projectile in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran mourns Khamenei
Here's why a burning tanker thousands of kilometres away matters for your exam. A tanker was set ablaze in the Strait of Hormuz near Oman after being hit by a projectile, with suspicion falling on Iran as the country mourns Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. The Strait of Hormuz is the narrow chokepoint through which nearly a fifth of the world's oil passes, including a big chunk of India's crude imports. So any conflict there pushes up India's oil bill and inflation. Bottom line for the exam, remember the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint, the Iran tensions after Khamenei's death, and the energy security angle for India.
Updated- July 07, 2026 12:33 pm IST - Dubai
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, though Iran is suspected of attacking at least two other vessels in the strait travelling on a route near Oman in recent days. File.
A tanker travelling off the coast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz caught on fire early Tuesday (July 7, 2026) morning after being struck by a projectile, the British military said.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said the tanker had been hit near Limah, Oman, in the strait.
It said the projectile hit the port side of the vessel while trying to travelling south out of the strait toward the Gulf of Oman.
It said there was no environmental impact from the strike and that authorities were investigating.
The report by state TV, quoting anonymous sources, implied Tehran carried out the assault on a tanker it said was carrying natural gas from Qatar.
However, there’s been no official claim from the Islamic Republic for the attack.
Israel-US strikes on Iran/armed conflict