Beijing confirms attack on oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz earlier this week

China has confirmed that an oil products tanker carrying Chinese crew was attacked earlier this week in the Strait of Hormuz, expressing concern over the safety of vessels operating amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.

The Chinese foreign ministry said there were nationals aboard the vessel but reported no crew casualties so far. Spokesperson Lin Jian made the comments during a regular news conference in Beijing.

Chinese media outlet Caixin reported on Thursday (May 7) that a Chinese-owned oil products tanker marked “CHINA OWNER & CREW” was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz on May 4.

The incident took place before a meeting between China’s foreign minister Wang Yi and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi in Beijing on Wednesday, where the reopening of the strait was among the issues discussed.

The vessel has not been officially identified. Maritime security sources said the damaged ship was believed to be the Marshall Islands-flagged oil products and chemical tanker JV Innovation, which reportedly sent a distress alert after a fire broke out on deck.

The attack is said to have occurred off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in the Gulf, near Mina Saqr.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global shipping route, and has seen growing disruption amid renewed attacks on vessels linked to the wider Iran–US confrontation. Industry estimates suggest hundreds of ships and around 20,000 seafarers have been affected by instability in the Gulf in recent weeks.

Tensions between the United States and Iran escalated further, with both sides exchanging fire as Washington awaits Tehran’s response to a US proposal aimed at pausing the fighting while leaving key disputes, including Iran’s nuclear programme, unresolved for now.

By Aghakazim Guliyev