LNG tanker Al Mayeda struck near Strait of Hormuz

Crew safe and vessel remains operational

All 25 crew members on board the Al Mayeda are safe following the attack. This group includes six Indian nationals.

No environmental damage or pollution resulted from the incident. The Qatar Gas Transport Company confirmed the vessel remains in a safe and operational condition.

Specialists are currently assessing the extent of the damage sustained by the ship.

Iran authorized transit despite ongoing tensions

Iran had approved the transit of the Al Mayeda through the Strait of Hormuz via Pakistani diplomatic channels prior to the attack. Bloomberg reported that Pakistan requested safe passage and received a green light from Iranian authorities hours before the strike.

The authorization complicates the assessment of whether Tehran's central command is responsible for the attack.

Negotiations between Washington and Tehran aimed at reopening the waterway have reached a standstill.

Qatar and Saudi Arabia condemn maritime attack

The ministry described the incident as "a dangerous act that threatens the safety of maritime navigation and the security of global energy supplies" in a statement issued on X on November 1.

Qatar warned of "reckless and irresponsible practices" and stated that the state "reserves its right to take all necessary measures under international law and the UN Charter". The government has launched an investigation to identify the cause of the attack and those responsible.

Saudi Arabia issued its "strongest condemnation and denunciation" of the attack. The Saudi Foreign Ministry affirmed its "solidarity with the State of Qatar in all the measures it takes to protect its maritime vessels".

India’s Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal described the incident as a "projectile attack" on X on October 31. The Indian government is currently in contact with the ship management company.

Strait of Hormuz transit volume drops amid security threats

The incident occurred amid rising threats to commercial shipping that began with the conflict involving Iran in late February. Approximately 20 percent of all globally traded LNG passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

Data from the maritime intelligence firm Windward shows that average daily transits through the strait were 24 in the third quarter. This figure is a decline from approximately 140 daily transits before the conflict began.

At least 29 vessels were targeted during October, surpassing the previous high recorded in March.

Attacks have expanded from transit lanes to include vessels at anchor in the Persian Gulf. Iran has issued a warning that any ship found switching off its identification or navigation systems within the Strait of Hormuz will be treated as hostile.

Over 120 commercial vessels hit since conflict began in February

Since the conflict began on 28 February, more than 120 commercial vessels have been subjected to attacks. By the end of October, the cumulative tally of maritime incidents reached 145. In March 2026 alone, authorities recorded 30 maritime incidents.

The Al Mayeda is one of 69 LNG carriers in the Nakilat fleet, which is projected to grow to 112 vessels. A previous attack on the Qatari LNG carrier Al Rekayyat occurred on 6 July, which was confirmed to be an IRGC attack. Anwar Gargash said the incident was a clear sign that Tehran is unable to commit to de-escalation or end the war.

QatarEnergy declared force majeure on 4 March.

On 31 October, the IRGC claimed that four oil tankers caught fire after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz, an incident separate from the attack on the Al Mayeda. CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper said in a video released on 30 October that during a flight over the strait, he observed many commercial vessels but "didn’t see the IRGC out there, at all". As of 1 November, no party has claimed responsibility for the attack on the Al Mayeda.

Iran announced a seven-fold increase in its weapons capacity on 1 November. The IRGC has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, granting passage only to a small number of vessels.