Oman rescues 25 from burning oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz

What the report says

Oman said its maritime authorities rescued 25 crew members from a burning vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most sensitive shipping lanes. The Omani Maritime Security Centre said Friday that it evacuated the crew from the RITI merchant ship. Al Jazeera reported that the vessel was identified by Oman as Panama-flagged, while MarineTraffic described it as a crude oil tanker.

The incident came amid a separate Iranian account of disruption in the same waterway. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said three oil tankers were stopped while trying to travel through what it called “unauthorised routes” in the strait. The IRGC said the vessels were carrying oil, including one supertanker, and claimed the ships either encountered incidents or hit mines. Al Jazeera said it was not clear whether one of those vessels was the same tanker involved in the Omani rescue.

The Strait of Hormuz links Gulf producers to global markets, so any disturbance there can quickly affect energy trade and shipping confidence. Al Jazeera also noted that Iran has repeatedly warned ships against passing through the strait without its permission, while the US military has denied Iranian claims about naval mines. The reporting underscores how maritime security in the area remains tense and disputed, with overlapping claims from Oman, Iran and the United States.