Trade vessel struck by projectile in Strait of Hormuz amid US-Iran talks

A trade vessel in the Strait of Hormuz reported being struck by a projectile overnight Tuesday as it was transiting near the coast of Oman.

The incident, reported to U.K. Maritime Trade Operations, comes amid conflicting reports of Iran participating in peace talks with the U.S. this week. President Donald Trump said on Monday that a deal to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz and denuclearize Iran was "imminent."

The UKMTO offered few details about the incident, saying only that the vessel had been struck "by an unknown projectile" at roughly 2 a.m. local time while it was 23 miles northeast of Al Khasab in Oman. The UKMTO did not clarify the name of the vessel or what flag it was flying under, nor did it note any injuries from the incident.

The British maritime security firm Ambrey confirmed the ship suffered damage but did not elaborate.

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Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

The incident comes as Iran has denied engaging in talks with the U.S., despite statement from multiple parties that talks are indeed ongoing.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said Tuesday said all parties were engaged in mediation and are "looking into a diplomatic solution."

A spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry denied talks with the U.S. on Monday, saying Tehran was only involved in negotiations with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

A navy vessel is seen sailing in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which much of the world's oil and gas passes on March 1, 2026. (Sahar AL ATTAR / AFP via Getty Images)

Trump acknowledged the mixed messages with frustration in a number of statements on Monday, insisting that Tehran officials were engaged in talks with the U.S. regardless of what they were saying publicly.

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"They ask for a meeting, some would say ‘beg,’ talks begin, with more scheduled in the immediate future, and they say, openly and proudly, that they’re not having any discussions, that nothing is being talked about, and they’re only dealing with ‘Oman’," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

A satellite image shows an oil slick next to the Caroline Bezengi, a sanctioned vessel off the coast of the Dhofar Governorate, Oman, July 28, 2026. (Planet Labs PBC/Handout via REUTERS)

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"For some reason they, when they're talking they don't like saying that they're talking," Trump said later during an Oval Office event. "So I say we're in talks, big deal, we're in talks. And they'll sometimes deny it even thought they spend hours and hours together talking."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.