Oil tanker reports two explosions in Hormuz; Trump says strait to reopen 'very soon'

CAIRO – 6 August 2026: An oil tanker reported hearing two explosions while transiting the Strait of Hormuz near Oman on Thursday, Britain's maritime security agency said.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the incident occurred about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Kumzar, Oman.

It added that the vessel and its crew are safe and that no environmental damage has been reported.

The report comes a day after Iran announced it is in the "final stage" of drafting an agreement with Oman on reopening and managing the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump told Fox News earlier this week that Hormuz “is going to be open very soon” as talks over the vital waterway are “moving along nicely.”

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran and Muscat have reached an understanding on the geographic coordinates of a shipping route through the strait.

He added that a joint announcement is being finalized, provided there is no interference from third parties.

The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world's most important energy chokepoints.

Before the conflict, the Strait of Hormuz carried about one-fifth of global petroleum liquids consumption and a significant share of the world's liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade each day.