One missing as crew fights fire aboard ship hit in Hormuz: maritime security firm

A crew member went missing while two others fought a fire aboard a vessel struck by an "unknown projectile" in the Strait of Hormuz, a British maritime security company said on Wednesday.

The incident added to mounting concerns over the status of US-Iran talks to end the war and resume traffic in the key waterway, as US President Donald Trump insisted it could reopen within hours while Iran said no talks with Washington were underway.

Earlier, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the vessel reported being "hit by an unknown projectile" and authorities were investigating, adding that the incident occurred 20 nautical miles (37 kilometres) northeast of Al Khasab, Oman.

British maritime security company Vanguard Tech identified the ship as the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier MINOAN PIONEER, hit while transiting northbound through the Strait of Hormuz at 2:00 am (2200 Monday GMT).

"The projectile reportedly struck the engine room, while a fire broke out in the accommodation area. The crew are fighting the fire and require assistance, while the third engineer is reported missing," Vanguard said.

"The initial distress call was relayed by the nearby Panama-flagged tanker SURIANAME PROSPERITY (IMO: 9376740), which reported that MINOAN PIONEER had suffered a complete blackout and required assistance," the company added.

Tehran and Washington have been at war since February 28, when the US and Israel launched surprise attacks on Iran. Despite a ceasefire and a preliminary deal in the months since, diplomacy has failed to end the war.

The Strait of Hormuz, a key conduit for global oil and gas supplies, has been the spark for repeated returns to fighting.

Iran wants to maintain control over and charge tolls for the Strait, powers it did not exercise before the war and which the US fiercely opposes.