LONDON, July 12, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The crew of a ship damaged off the coast of Oman had abandoned the vessel, British maritime agency UKMTO reported Sunday, an attack the United States blamed on Iran.

"UKMTO has been informed by military authorities and the CSO of the vessel that the crew have abandoned the vessel and are currently embarked in a lifeboat," it said of the incident that took place around 17 kilometres (10 miles) east of Oman.

Iran had said earlier it struck and stopped a ship in the Strait of Hormuz for ignoring repeated instructions to use an approved route.