A tanker reported being struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, Britain’s maritime security agency said, after the United States and Iran each launched strikes in the worst escalation since they signed their interim peace deal.

The warring sides each accused the other of violating the agreement they reached 10 days ago to end the four-month-old conflict. Washington said it hit Iranian targets overnight, while Iran said it had struck targets linked to U.S. forces on Saturday in response.

Saturday’s attack on a tanker in the strait followed an attack on a cargo ship on Thursday that triggered the escalation. Iran has made a fresh bid to assert control over the world’s most important energy shipping route, which has begun to reopen after months of disruption.

Britain’s UKMTO maritime security agency said the tanker that was hit on Saturday had sustained damage to its bridge, with all crew reported safe. The Joint Maritime Information Center, run by a coalition of navies protecting shipping, said it had raised its security threat level as a result of recent incidents.

Iran has not directly commented on reports of specific attacks on ships.

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Tagged: Middle East BACK TO HOMEPAGE