The government of Thailand has demanded an official apology from Iran after a Thai cargo vessel was struck in the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a fire and forcing the crew to abandon the ship.
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had summoned Iran’s ambassador to seek clarification over the incident, which occurred on Wednesday amid escalating hostilities in the Gulf region.
Vessel Hit by Projectiles
The vessel involved, the Thai-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree, was sailing through the strategic waterway when it was struck by two projectiles.
According to the ship’s operator Precious Shipping, the attack caused a fire and severely damaged the vessel’s engine room.
The company said three crew members were reported missing and are believed to be trapped inside the engine compartment.
“The company is working with the relevant authorities to rescue these three missing crew members,” Precious Shipping said in a statement.
The remaining 20 crew members were safely evacuated and taken ashore in Oman.
Images released by the Royal Thai Navy showed thick black smoke billowing from the rear section of the damaged ship.
Iran Claims Responsibility
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps later confirmed that the vessel had been targeted.
In a statement reported by the Tasnim News Agency, the Guards said the ship had been “fired upon by Iranian fighters”.
Iranian forces have repeatedly warned that ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz could be targeted amid the ongoing conflict.
The strait is one of the world’s most important shipping routes, carrying about 20 percent of global oil and gas supplies.
Meanwhile, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said the war has triggered a growing humanitarian crisis inside Iran.
The agency estimates that up to 3.2 million people have been displaced within the country since the conflict began on February 28.
UNHCR warned that the number could rise further if fighting continues.
The attack on the Thai vessel is among a series of maritime incidents in the Gulf since the war intensified, raising concerns about the safety of commercial shipping and the stability of global energy supplies.
