UKMTO reports two explosions near tanker in Strait of Hormuz, crew safe
The shipping security incident near Kumzar, Oman comes as Gavin Newsom disputed Donald Trump's claims of an imminent Strait of Hormuz reopening deal and regional officials pushed back on that outlook.
A tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz reported hearing two explosions near Kumzar, Oman, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which said the vessel and crew were safe and no environmental damage was reported. UKMTO said the incident occurred about 10 miles southeast of Kumzar and advised vessels to exercise caution. The episode unfolded as Gov. Gavin Newsom publicly rejected President Donald Trump's repeated claims that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was close, citing an unverified social media video and saying the waterway was closed. The broader dispute comes amid reports that Iranian officials want a 5% to 7% toll on ships using the route and Oman wants to levy a 3% toll, while regional officials have denied backing Trump's assertion of an imminent traffic deal. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei had earlier said that any agreement reached with Oman on a new shipping route for vessels did not mean the Strait of Hormuz would reopen.
- UKMTO: United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a British maritime security reporting body that issues alerts and liaises with commercial shipping.
- Strait of Hormuz: A narrow waterway linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman that is a critical route for global oil and maritime trade.
- toll: A fee charged for passage through a route or waterway, which can raise transport costs for ship operators and cargo owners.