Projectiles Strike Emirati Tug as Iran Sets Terms for Hormuz
Projectiles struck an Emirati-owned tug in the Persian Gulf as Iran offered to restore security to the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. meets specific demands.
Two projectiles struck the Selat Storm, an Emirati-owned offshore tug, in the northern Persian Gulf on Sunday, November 1, 2026. The attack occurred approximately 83 miles east of Ras Al Khafji, Saudi Arabia, leaving the vessel partially sinking. This incident followed a separate strike on a tanker in the Arabian Gulf earlier that day, where two projectiles hit the port side of a vessel traveling southeast.
These attacks occur amid heightened regional instability and claims from the Government of Iran that four tankers recently hit mines during illegal passages through the Strait of Hormuz. In response to the tension, Esmaeil Baqaei, a spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated that Iran could restore security to the Strait of Hormuz and resume negotiations within two days if the United States provides war reparations and removes U.S. forces from nearby locations.
Donald Trump expressed a desire to avoid further conflict to save lives, though he warned that the U.S. might eventually have to use force against Iran. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations has advised vessels in the area to exercise caution as investigations continue into the projectile strikes and a recently reclassified hijacking of a fishing vessel.
