Three Tankers Struck in Strait of Hormuz as U.S.-Iran Oil Talks Stall

Three vessels were struck in the Strait of Hormuz from Monday into Tuesday. One tanker off the coast of Oman caught fire after being hit, while a second tanker sustained damage from a drone strike, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center. Both ships sustained damage but no crew members were injured.

Time reported that Iran has not directly claimed responsibility for the attacks but has implied involvement. Iranian state television said the tanker that caught fire had ignored warnings and was transporting gas from Qatar. The three strikes marked the most attacks in a single day since late April, the UN IMO said.

A temporary framework signed in June between the U.S. and Iran had allowed ships to resume movement through the strait toll-free for 60 days. Commercial traffic through the strait rose from near zero to over 20 crossings a day after the signing, according to Winward.

-Israeli airstrikes that started the war on Feb. 28. " Qatar holds Iran "fully legally responsible" for the attack on the tanker, said Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar's foreign ministry. " Iran hit a vessel last month after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that ships must coordinate with its navy and follow designated routes.

After the June incident, the U.S. conducted retaliatory attacks on Iran's missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites, U.S. Central Command said.S.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that Iran will not negotiate with the U.S. until Israeli operations in Lebanon cease. "We assure you that we will not resume negotiations as long as the first clause of the memorandum is not implemented and a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities are not achieved," Araghchi said.

He added there will be no final agreement with the U.S. without Israel's full withdrawal from Lebanese territory. U.S. and Iranian negotiators met in Doha, Qatar, last week with Qatari and Pakistani mediators.