Trump's Oman bomb threat an attempt to get their 'attention,' says former ambassador

A cargo vessel was struck by a projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations agency said Tuesday, signaling persisting navigation risks in the waterway as Washington and Tehran harden their positions. The attack caused damage to the engine room and resulted in a crew casualty, the maritime agency said, adding that the remaining crew were being assisted by the Omani Coast Guard. The incident came after an Iranian military official repeated threats that the Islamic state won't back down over the Strait of Hormuz. Fox News reported Tuesday that Ebrahim Zolfaghari, Iranian military spokesperson, said vessels attempting passage through the strait will "find several beautiful holes in their hulls." The Strait of Hormuz, which handled about a fifth of the world's crude oil and gas before the war, has become the central flashpoint between the U.S. and Iran since February. Shipping remains near a standstill amid sporadic attacks on oil tankers. Just three vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to ship-tracking data from Kpler. Oil prices climbed on Tuesday, with U.S. crude oil futures rising 0.6% to $85.02 a barrel, after a 2.6% rise on Monday. Brent crude, the international benchmark, was 0.2% higher on Tuesday after rising above $90 on Monday, last trading at $91.12 a barrel.