🔶 A maritime incident involving an oil tanker near the coasts of Oman

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Agency reported that a maritime incident occurred 20 miles (about 37 kilometers) off the northeastern coast of Qasb in Oman. According to the agency, the captain of the oil tanker reported that he heard the sound of an explosion near the vessel. Based on this report, the ship and all of its crew are in full health.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations Agency has advised ships to pass through the area with caution and to report any suspicious activity.

The report was published while Abbas Araqchi, the foreign minister of the Islamic Republic, said that negotiations between Tehran and Muscat regarding the Strait of Hormuz are in their “final stages.” Ismail Baqaei, a spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, described the course of these talks as “moving forward,” but also emphasized that an agreement between Iran and Oman does not mean reopening the Strait of Hormuz.