Korean ship catches fire; Iran targets UAE port after US escort plan

TEHRAN: A South Korean merchant vessel caught fire following an explosion in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, while Iranian drones reportedly struck an oil facility in the United Arab Emirates, escalating tensions in the key Middle East shipping corridor after the United States announced a new naval escort mission.

The blaze aboard the Panama-flagged cargo ship operated by South Korea’s HMM broke out in the engine room, according to company and maritime reports. Authorities said there were no casualties, but the incident added to growing concerns among shipping operators over the safety of transiting the strategic waterway.

At the same time, the UAE reported a fire at an oil installation in the port of Fujairah following what officials described as an Iranian drone attack. The port, located outside the Strait of Hormuz, is one of the region’s critical export hubs that bypasses direct passage through the chokepoint.

The developments came shortly after US President Donald Trump announced a new naval operation aimed at ensuring the safe passage of commercial vessels through the strait, a route that carries a significant share of global oil supplies. US officials said two American-flagged merchant ships had already passed through under escort, though Iran denied any such crossings.

Tehran rejected Washington’s claims and insisted that no commercial vessels had recently transited the strait. Iranian officials also warned that foreign naval forces approaching the area could be targeted, maintaining that maritime security must be coordinated with Iranian armed forces.

Despite US assurances of control over the waterway, shipping companies remain cautious. Industry groups report that hundreds of vessels are still avoiding the strait amid fears of mines, drones, missiles, and small boat attacks, with oil prices reacting sharply to the renewed instability.