ONE KILLED AS VESSEL STRUCK IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ

A commercial vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, killing one person, Iranian officials said. The UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre confirmed a vessel was hit by an unknown projectile while transiting the strait, in an update issued late Saturday, British time. Accounts differ on the number of injured: one report said four others were hurt, while the Qeshm governor put the figure at three. A fire broke out on board, and local authorities assisted with the crew's evacuation, the UKMTO said. The vessel was near Hengam and Qeshm islands at the time.

Hossein Amir Teymoori, the governor of Qeshm, said the vessel was struck at around 5am local time, according to Iranian state media. He blamed the United States, calling it "the US terrorist enemy," state television reported. The United States has not claimed responsibility, and US Central Command has not responded, according to reports. The UKMTO said the crew's status, the damage and the environmental impact were unknown, and advised vessels to transit with caution. Qeshm is the largest island in the Strait of Hormuz, a route used to move oil and gas through the region.

The Strait of Hormuz is a key transport route, used for about a fifth of the world's oil, one report said. Iran and the United States have yet to agree a deal to end the conflict between them or reopen the strait. Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament's national security committee, wrote on X that there were "no negotiations," adding that "until Iran's terms are met, talks are futile." One report said the confrontation in the strait has continued since late February.