Tasnim and Fars reported that UKMTO said a tanker heading southeast was hit on its left side by two unidentified projectiles in the Persian Gulf. They also reported that all crew were safe and that no environmental impact was seen.

The earlier incidents UKMTO has logged cluster around the Strait of Hormuz: seven strikes between September 28 and October 4, a tanker hit near Oman on October 23, and a vessel on fire 25 nautical miles northeast of Khasab on October 29, the second fire there in two days. This latest report sits well outside the Hormuz and Red Sea routes where the risk premium on Gulf oil was built.

Saudi Arabia shipped about 6.5 million barrels a day in October against 6.6 million in September, though shipping trackers put the figure anywhere from 5.4 million to about 7 million. About 4 million barrels a day leave through the Gulf and 2.5 million through Yanbu, with the East-West pipeline running again. The premium on Gulf crude has fallen from roughly $34 a barrel in September to about $6 as of October 28. One more report, in a new place, therefore adds to the tally without showing harm. Brent was last quoted at $115.60 on October 25.

The competing accounts of what is hitting ships still do not match. Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy says three tankers caught fire after hitting mines, while US Central Command says the main transit routes are clear of mines. Nearer to Saudi export infrastructure, a fire broke out at Ras Tanura after a Houthi attack on October 27, and the Houthis claimed a repeat attack on October 29.

On the diplomatic side, US envoy Tom Barrack says a deal is "very close", citing mediation by Qatar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

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