An Iranian commercial vessel was hit by a projectile near Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz early Sunday, 13th September 2026, killing one crew member and injuring four others, according to Iranian state media.
The incident comes a day before Tehran is due to brief regional countries about its plans to manage shipping traffic through the strategically important waterway.
Iranian state media has claimed an Iranian commercial vessel was struck in the Strait of Hormuz late Saturday, killing one person, amid an ongoing battle between the US and Iran for control over the crucial energy chokepoint. https://t.co/FZYnRWoHYe pic.twitter.com/yir7EJW66s
— CNN (@CNN) September 13, 2026
The vessel was carrying a 10-member crew, Qeshm Governor said, according to state-run IRNA news agency. He blamed what he called a “terrorist enemy” for the attack, but said authorities had not yet determined what type of projectile struck the vessel.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported that a vessel was hit by a projectile while passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The UK maritime monitor did not provide further details about the incident.
Strike comes amid rising tensions
There was no immediate comment from the US military. The United States has previously struck Iranian-flagged vessels as part of its continuing blockade of Iranian ports. At the same time, US warships have faced a growing threat from Iranian ballistic missiles launched in recent days.
Qeshm Island, which lies around 22 kilometres from the port city of Bandar Abbas, is important to Iran’s efforts to control shipping movements through the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest strike comes as tensions remain high around the waterway. The Strait of Hormuz had been widely treated as an international shipping route before the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran on 28th February.
Iran-Oman shipping talks
The incident also comes ahead of a planned regional meeting on shipping through the strait. Iran said on Saturday, 12th September, that foreign ministers from regional countries would meet to discuss efforts by Iran and Oman to manage shipping in the waterway.
However, Bahrain has already said it will not take part in the meeting. It was not immediately clear which other countries would attend.
Iran has stressed that any agreement with Oman on managing the Strait of Hormuz would not automatically mean the waterway would be opened to international shipping.
Iran’s president told an Indian broadcaster on Saturday that the strait would be opened only if the United States ends its blockade of Iranian ports.
Shipping traffic remains low
Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains at a low level as attacks and tensions continue. Iran has also shown interest in charging ships fees for using the route.
Under the system Iran has described, vessels entering the Persian Gulf would travel through Iranian waters. Ships leaving the Gulf would use a route that would partly pass through Iranian waters and partly through Omani waters.
The situation is also affecting energy markets. Global prices of oil, natural gas and related products have risen amid concerns over disruptions to shipping through the region.
At the same time, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen are putting pressure on another major shipping route, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea. The Houthis say they are targeting only neighbouring Saudi Arabia, which supports Yemen’s internationally recognised government, but the threat has added to concerns in global markets.
