Two crew members of the Greek‑owned oil tanker El Gaia are missing after the vessel was struck in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, Omani officials said.

The tanker was on a voyage from the Persian Gulf to the Atlantic when it was hit and set alight, the coast guard said. A rescue effort has been launched, but no survivors have been confirmed.

Conflicting claims over the strike

Iranian authorities say the ship struck a mine, igniting the fire, and that the incident is part of a broader pattern of attacks on shipping near its coast. They added that the tanker had been sailing in a safe zone but was suddenly damaged.

Opposite to that, U.S. officials assert that a missile launched from the Iranian mainland struck the vessel, followed by a drone attack that further damaged it. The U.S. has not yet named the missile type but said the strike was deliberate.

Missing sailors and search operations

Oman’s coast guard confirmed that two crew members are unaccounted for. The missing men were last seen on the ship’s bridge before the explosion. No bodies have been recovered, and the search is ongoing in the high‑traffic waters of the Hormuz Strait.

The tanker’s crew are largely Greek and Italian, with a mixed national background. The ship was owned by a Greek company and operated under an Italian flag. Its last reported position was off the coast of Oman, a few kilometres from the international maritime boundary.

Strategic implications for the region

The Strait of Hormuz is a choke point that sees roughly a tenth of the world’s oil passing through every day. Any disruption can ripple through global markets and heighten tensions between Iran and the United States, who have long warned each other of retaliation for attacks in the area.

Iran has previously struck a U.S. warship and a British tanker with missiles in 2019 and 2021, sparking brief flare‑ups that were defused by diplomatic channels. The current incident, involving a civilian tanker, could raise the stakes and risk a broader military response if the missing sailors are deemed casualties of war.

Oman, a neutral player in the region, has called for calm and urged all parties to respect international shipping norms. The country has repeatedly warned that any escalation could threaten its own security and the stability of the Gulf.

Next steps and international reactions

The International Maritime Organization has opened a case to investigate the incident and will work with the Greek and Italian governments. A joint rescue operation involving Omani and Greek coast guards is expected to continue over the coming days.

The United Nations Security Council has not yet taken any action, but the incident is likely to be raised in a subsequent meeting, given the precedent of using the forum to address maritime security in the Persian Gulf.

The oil markets remain volatile, with crude prices hovering near $90 a barrel amid fears that any further disruption could tighten supply. Analysts warn that a repeat of the 2019 missile attacks could trigger a chain of retaliatory measures.

Oman’s foreign minister has requested that the international community monitor the situation closely, noting that the region’s stability depends on free and safe passage for commercial vessels.

As the search continues, the fate of the missing sailors remains uncertain. The incident has already prompted a review of maritime security protocols in the Gulf, and further diplomatic steps may follow if hostilities intensify.