Iran Attacks Tankers near Oman as Tensions Escalate Around Strait of Hormuz
Iran has escalated tensions in the Gulf region with reported attacks on commercial shipping, including a product tanker anchored off the coast of Oman and additional vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. The Maritime Security Center of Oman confirmed that a tanker anchored approximately five nautical miles north of Khasab Port was struck and later evacuated. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a second vessel was hit above the waterline about 50 nautical miles north of Muscat, with a fire in the engine room that was later brought under control.
The product tanker Skylight, an 11,262 dwt vessel, had been anchored off Oman since February 22, according to TankerTrackers.com. The vessel, reportedly registered in Palau and managed from Dubai, is described as a smaller tanker typically used for fueling other ships. However, the Palau International Ship Registry stated that the vessel had been removed from its registry in January 2026 in line with compliance and regulatory procedures, calling the current registration claim a false flag.
TankerTrackers.com alleged that Iran had struck one of its own vessels, describing the incident as part of broader tanker-related theatrics. Omani authorities confirmed that all 20 crew members aboard the Skylight, 15 Indian nationals and five Iranian nationals, were evacuated. Four crew members sustained varying injuries and were receiving medical treatment.
The United States had added the Skylight to its sanctions list in December 2025 as part of a broader action targeting 29 vessels and entities linked to Iran’s oil sector. Among those sanctioned was UAE-based Egyptian shipping businessman Hatem Elsaid Farid Ibrahim Sakr, who was reported to own and operate companies including Red Sea Ship Management and High Seas Petroleum in the UAE. U.S. authorities stated that the vessel, previously known as Al Moustafa, was acquired by Sakr in June 2023 and was subsequently used for a ship-to-ship transfer of Iranian condensate linked to Sahara Thunder.
In a separate alert, UKMTO reported receiving a third-party Channel 16 radio communication indicating that another vessel had been struck by a projectile outside the Strait of Hormuz. The report stated that a fire broke out in the engine room but was successfully contained. Security sources later identified the vessel as the crude oil tanker MKD Vyom, a 42,000 dwt ship registered in the Marshall Islands and managed from Dubai. Its AIS signal indicated it was en route to Saudi Arabia.
UKMTO also said it was investigating a third reported incident involving a vessel struck approximately 17 nautical miles northwest of Mina Saqr in the UAE, near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz from the Persian Gulf. According to reports, the vessel was hit by a projectile, but the crew extinguished the resulting fire and the ship continued its voyage.
Iran has stated that it is attempting to close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy shipping route. However, TankerTrackers.com reports that Iran continues loading oil onto tankers, suggesting that the current strategy may be aimed at creating disruption and instability in regional shipping rather than a full closure of the waterway.
