Iran has formally rejected accusations from Qatar regarding an attack on a liquefied natural gas tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, describing the allegations as "unacceptable." The statement from Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghai comes as diplomatic tensions escalate following the incident, which occurred earlier this week.
The dispute follows reports that three commercial vessels, including a Qatari LNG carrier, were struck within hours in the strategic waterway on Tuesday.
Qatar has formally demanded that Iran cease actions it claims threaten international shipping, marking a sharp escalation in regional hostilities.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical chokepoint for global energy flows, handling a significant portion of the world's seaborne oil and LNG trade.
Markets are closely monitoring the situation for signs of further disruption.
While no immediate supply outage has been confirmed, the diplomatic row reinforces the vulnerability of shipping routes in the region.