Tanker Hit by Blast 60 Nautical Miles Off Oman, Spilling Fuel as Brent Holds at $100
Updated
Updated · Euronews · May 26
Tanker Hit by Blast 60 Nautical Miles Off Oman, Spilling Fuel as Brent Holds at $100
2 articles · Updated · Euronews · May 26
UKMTO said a tanker suffered an external blast near its port-side waterline about 60 nautical miles from Muscat, spilling bunker fuel into the sea while leaving the vessel and crew unharmed.
The incident adds to mounting disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, where traffic has fallen to only a few dozen ships a day from a normal 125 to 140.
Brent crude rose 2.5% to around $100 a barrel as US-Iran talks stalled after Washington's reported defensive strikes in southern Iran and Trump's renewed nuclear demands.
European stocks fell broadly, with the Stoxx 600 down about 1%, while US equities opened higher and WTI slid more than 4% to roughly $92.6, underscoring fractured market expectations.
Rubio said a deal to end the conflict may still take a few days, leaving energy flows through the chokepoint vulnerable to further attacks and delays.
As US-Iran talks falter, could a prolonged Strait of Hormuz closure trigger a global recession?
Beyond the immediate crisis, which nation, China or Russia, stands to gain the most from prolonged US-Iran tensions?
With Iran's proxies weakened, is its control of the Strait its last major leverage against the United States?
March 2026 Gulf Crisis: Strait of Hormuz Attacks Cut Oil Flow by 80%, Spark Global Supply Chain and Environmental Emergencies
Overview
In March 2026, the Gulf Crisis escalated sharply as Iran launched retaliatory missile strikes across seven Gulf states, targeting both civilian infrastructure and shipping. This led to a dramatic collapse in traffic through the vital Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global energy flows. The crisis intensified when a commercial vessel, the Safeen Prestige, was attacked near the Strait, forcing its crew to abandon ship. These events highlighted Iran’s intent to exert regional pressure and underscored the immediate dangers to maritime operations, setting off a chain reaction of economic, environmental, and security challenges detailed throughout the report.