Rubio: Progress made to reopen Strait of Hormuz

A cargo ship, the Minoan Pioneer, sailing under Liberia's flag, was hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, close to Oman's coast. The crew abandoned the vessel, and one seafarer, the third engineer, is reported missing, according to Middle East Eye. The projectile reportedly struck the engine room, and a fire broke out in the accommodation area.

The incident occurred as the US and Iran provided conflicting information about the status of talks to end their conflict. US President Donald Trump said talks were underway, while Iran denied that negotiations were being held or planned. The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, through which a significant amount of the world's oil and natural gas passes.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations Center reported that the cargo ship was hit at 2 a.m. local time, 37 kilometers northeast of Al Khasab in Oman. The ship's flag, cargo, and other details were not provided. The incident highlights the risks to global energy flows amid the ongoing conflict.

Brief written by urgent.news from Middle East Eye, Jerusalem Post, Punch Nigeria, Associated Press, RTE News — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.