A Qatar liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier was hit while exiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Bloomberg News said on the 7th, citing people familiar with the matter, that the Qatar LNG carrier "Al Rekayat" was struck by a projectile near the coast of Oman.
Crisis management firm EOS Risk Group said the attack occurred about 8 nautical miles (about 15 kilometers) east of Lima, Oman, and a fire broke out afterward. EOS said the attack was believed to have been carried out by a drone or a missile.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also said the same day that it had "received a report of an incident at sea 8 nautical miles east of Lima, Oman," but did not disclose the vessel's name.
The struck vessel is reportedly owned and managed by Qatar state-run LNG shipping company Nakilat. The ship was believed to have been sailing with its transponder (position transceiver) turned off at the time. Bloomberg said the Qatari side did not respond to a request for comment on the matter.
As Iran is conducting 60 days of talks for a final agreement based on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with the United States in May, the attack has heightened concerns about implementing the U.S.-Iran deal.
Bloomberg said, "The attack has heightened shipowners' concerns and put to the test the agreement between the United States and Iran aimed at halting attacks in those waters."