A second commercial oil tanker was hit in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, intensifying concerns over shipping security as Iran and Oman continued discussions about how the strategic waterway could be managed.

The latest incident comes as the United States prepares to send the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group to the Middle East for a deployment expected to last at least seven months.

Second tanker struck in Strait of Hormuz

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization (UKMTO) said an oil tanker near Oman was struck by an unidentified projectile. The impact sparked a fire aboard the vessel, but the blaze was later extinguished.

“Local authorities have reported a tanker has been hit by an unknown projectile causing fire to the vessel which has since been extinguished,” the organization wrote in its warning.

UKMTO said all members of the crew were accounted for and reported safe, with no environmental damage reported following the incident.

“All crew are reported as safe and accounted for and there has been no report of environmental impact,” the warning continued.

Authorities were investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack. UKMTO urged ships operating in the area to exercise caution and notify the organization about suspicious activity.

“Authorities are investigating. Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO,” the message concluded.

The incident marks the second reported strike against a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz this week. On Monday, another projectile hit the engine room of a tanker sailing under the Liberian flag.

Qatar seeks to ease U.S.-Iran tensions

Against the backdrop of the attacks, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani is expected to travel to Tehran on Thursday for diplomatic talks aimed at reducing tensions between Iran and the United States.

Doha said the visit is intended to “discuss ways to de-escalate tensions and create the conditions conducive to dialogue.”

Qatar has acted as an important intermediary between Washington and Tehran during the conflict. The country also played a significant role in diplomatic efforts that produced a memorandum of understanding between the two countries in June, although that agreement has since expired.

U.S. prepares new military deployment

The developing maritime crisis comes as the U.S. military moves toward another major deployment in the region.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group is expected to arrive in the Middle East in the coming weeks and remain deployed for a minimum of seven months, adding another major American naval presence to an already tense region.

Meanwhile, crude oil prices remained near $82 per barrel Thursday. Prices have declined for three consecutive days as the conflict has entered what has been described as a less kinetic phase.

Iran and Oman discuss control of key waterway

Iran and Oman are continuing negotiations over an arrangement to jointly manage the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important shipping routes.

Officials affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced Wednesday that an agreement had been reached, although discussions surrounding the proposed arrangement were continuing.

The strait remains a critical passage for global energy shipments, making any disruption there a major concern for international markets and commercial shipping.

Washington intensifies economic pressure on Tehran

The United States is also expanding its economic campaign against Iran through Operation Economic Outcast, a strategy focused on restricting Iranian access to revenue.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has compared the effort to an “economic D-Day,” with Washington targeting Iranian income streams including revenue connected to oil smuggling.

The latest campaign follows the Trump administration’s earlier Maximum Pressure strategy, which sought to restrict Iran’s economic resources and prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.

According to an opinion analysis by Victoria Coates, the administration’s new sanctions strategy is intended to increase pressure on Tehran and strengthen Washington’s leverage in negotiations over a potential nuclear agreement.

“This is an excerpt from an opinion article by Victoria Coates.”

Azerbaijan caught between regional powers

The conflict is also creating challenges for Azerbaijan, which borders Iran and maintains close military ties with Israel.

Azerbaijan has officially maintained a neutral position, but tensions with Tehran have increased amid concerns over Baku’s cooperation with Israel and its reliance on Israeli military equipment.

Iranian drones struck the Nakhchivan exclave along the countries’ shared border in March. One drone reportedly hit the passenger terminal at Nakhchivan International Airport, while another landed near a school in the village of Shakarabad on March 5.

At the same time, Azerbaijan must manage relationships with Turkey and Russia while continuing efforts toward a peace agreement with neighboring Armenia.

International law and security researcher Farid Shukurlu told the Jerusalem Post that the tensions are rooted in Tehran’s actions rather than public sentiment in Azerbaijan.

“Even though Azerbaijan’s position was formally neutrality, the country was still targeted by the IRGC in the Nakhchivan enclave.”

Shukurlu also pointed to the expanding defense relationship between Baku and Jerusalem.

“The military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel is at an all-time high.”

With commercial vessels facing renewed threats in the Strait of Hormuz, diplomatic efforts underway and additional U.S. military forces preparing to enter the region, the crisis continues to carry significant consequences for shipping, energy markets and the broader Middle East security environment.