A tanker sailing through the Strait of Hormuz has been struck by an unidentified projectile, triggering a fire on board the vessel.
The British maritime agency, UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), confirmed the incident after receiving a distress report from the ship's crew.
The attack marks a sharp escalation in violence against commercial traffic in one of the world's most vital energy corridors.
Reports from Axios indicate that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps fired at least two rockets at the vessel.
While attribution remains unconfirmed by official state channels, the incident follows a similar attack on a container ship earlier this week, which was the first reported strike on commercial traffic since an interim US-Iran peace deal took effect.
The rapid succession of attacks suggests a breakdown in the fragile security arrangement governing the strait.