A tugboat travelling near the Strait of Hormuz was hit by two unidentified projectiles, leaving one person with minor injuries, as attacks on commercial shipping continue to threaten the vital waterway.
The vessel, travelling south off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, sustained damage but continued on its route, according to the UK Navy’s Maritime Trade Operations centre.
The agency said 10 attacks on commercial vessels had been recorded in and around the strait during the previous week. October has already become the worst month for shipping attacks there since the early days of the war in March.
The latest incident came as Iran said its conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz remained unchanged. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran’s proposal for a limited, seven-day ceasefire with the United States was still available.
Under the proposal, Iran has called for the US naval blockade of its ports to be lifted and sanctions on Iranian oil to be eased. It also wants the waterway reopened and direct negotiations on its nuclear programme resumed.
“If they comply with our conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will reopen on the sixth day, and negotiations will begin on the seventh day,” Mr Araghchi said. He added: “Our conditions are fair, and if the United States is willing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, it can meet them within a few days.”
President Trump rejected the proposal when it was first presented in September, although Iran said it remained on the table and that it was still considering US comments on the plan.
Regional tensions fuel security warnings
The United States urged its citizens across the Middle East to exercise “heightened vigilance”, warning that hostilities could escalate rapidly and that groups backed by Iran might target American interests overseas or locations associated with the US and its citizens.
The warning referred to attacks by Iranian-supported Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia, including strikes on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure. At least 20 people, including one American, were killed during one week in October when Houthi forces attacked Saudi airports.
Fighting between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government also continued. Two drone interceptions were reported around Riyadh, where the Kingdom Centre skyscraper ordered office tenants to work remotely until further notice.
The Houthis said an Apache helicopter had been shot down near Najran, close to the Yemen border. The Saudi-led coalition said two pilots had died when a helicopter crashed in the area, attributing the incident to a technical malfunction. An alleged Saudi air strike in northern Yemen killed at least nine people and wounded 16, according to the Houthi news agency.
Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, was expected in Iran for talks aimed at preventing a return to large-scale war. Iranian officials said discussions would cover regional and international developments, while President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow is prepared to contribute to mediation efforts.
