Qatari gas ship hit by unidentified objects in Persian Gulf

Qatar’s national gas shipping company, Nakilat, confirmed that one of its vessels sustained damage in the Persian Gulf on Friday night. The company stated that the Al Mayeda was struck by unidentified objects, though no crew members were injured and the ship remains operational. This incident adds financial and logistical pressure to energy markets as diplomatic tensions between Washington and Tehran persist.

Nakilat, officially the Qatar Gas Transport Co., reported that the vessel suffered damage but did not suffer any environmental impact. The statement did not identify the party responsible for firing the objects. Iran has previously claimed attacks on ships and warned against vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz without its permission. Qatar’s foreign ministry condemned the attack and said authorities were investigating the incident.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that Iranian negotiators are currently in Qatar for talks. He stated that a proposal could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days if the United States meets several conditions. Araghchi emphasized that Iran hopes the U.S. will choose diplomacy over other paths and noted that no direct talks are being held with Washington. He added that the final outcome depends on answers provided by the U.S. to specific Iranian questions.

The minister said Iran is ready for both defense and diplomacy, depending on the rationality shown by the United States. He described ongoing consultations with mediators as an effort to avoid a return to all-out war. The diplomatic track runs parallel to military actions in the region, where Israeli strikes in Gaza killed eight people on Sunday. Five people were killed in Khan Younis, and three were killed in Gaza City, including a four-year-old boy.

In Yemen, Iran-backed Houthi rebels reported two airstrikes on the University of Hodeida’s medical school. The rebels blamed Saudi Arabia for the strikes, while the Saudi-led coalition described the action as a precision operation. The port city of Hodeida has faced repeated attacks since fighting escalated months ago, reigniting the country's civil war. Separately, the United Nations called for an investigation after a human rights staffer died in Houthi custody. The staffer had been held since June 2024.

Iran’s state-run news agency reported that the country designated the British navy and air force as terrorist organizations. The Iranian Foreign Ministry accused the United Kingdom of participating in U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran by providing military bases and logistical support. The designation could expose individuals accused of working with MI6 to prosecution under Iranian law and may increase the risk of military confrontation.

The death of the U.N. staffer marks the second time a U.N. employee has died in Houthi custody. A World Food Program worker died in February 2025. U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said the Houthis never provided information on the well-being of the deceased staffer despite repeated requests. The combination of naval incidents, diplomatic negotiations, and regional airstrikes creates a complex environment for energy traders and regional partners.