Projectile hits cargo ship in Hormuz as Iran issues renewed warning

A cargo ship travelling through the Strait of Hormuz on a new Oman UN-backed route was hit by a projectile on Thursday, sustaining bridge damage, but no casualties or environmental impact, the British military said.

The ship was struck 7,5 nautical miles off the coast of Oman after Iran’s IRGC earlier in the day threatened vessels travelling through the strait without Tehran’s permission.

A video recorded on the bridge of a ship was posted on social media purporting to air an IRGC Navy radio broadcast warning that only vessels with Iranian permission were allowed to pass.

"Transit only with IRGC permission, on designated routes. No permission, AIS off, or off-route, and you carry the consequences," the broadcast reportedly said.

Maritime data showed a surge in ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz before the attack, on a new route announced on Wednesday by Oman in coordination with the International Maritime Organisation, a UN agency.