A tanker was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, according to Britain's maritime security agency.
The incident marks a dangerous escalation in maritime violence at one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, occurring just days after the United States launched military strikes against targets in Iran in response to an earlier drone attack on a commercial vessel.
The attack underscores the fragility of the current ceasefire agreement, with Washington and Tehran trading accusations of violations.
For market participants, the strike signals that the corridor remains highly exposed to kinetic threats, complicating efforts to normalize freight flows and insurance premiums in the Persian Gulf.
This development follows a sharp escalation in regional hostilities, including the US military response on Friday.
The recurrence of direct attacks on commercial shipping suggests that the risk of prolonged disruption to global energy supplies remains elevated, despite diplomatic efforts to de-escalate.