Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Tanker Attacked in Hormuz; Iran Says Qatar Holds Three Pilots
Ships that carry oil have to pass through a narrow strip of ocean called the Strait of Hormuz.
Recently, one of those ships was hit by something unknown.
The ship belongs to a company from Abu Dhabi called ADNOC, and it is the third ADNOC ship to be attacked in one week.
Iran says it is in charge of the strait because of a war that started in February.
Before the war, about one out of every five big oil and gas shipments in the world went through that waterway.
Iran also says Qatar is holding three of its pilots who went missing in March.
Qatar says that is not true and that the pilots' planes were shot down.
Qatar says it found the remains of one pilot and invited Iran to come talk about it in April, but Iran did not come.
Iran asked the Red Cross to help.
Both Iran and the US say they control the strait, which is making people worried about ships and oil.
A tanker owned by Abu Dhabi's state-owned ADNOC was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, the third such attack on an ADNOC-operated vessel in the past week.
Iran's Armed Forces General Staff says Qatar captured and is holding three Iranian pilots who went missing in March after their jets were downed.
Iran asked International Committee of the Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger to intervene, alleging Qatar has blocked the pilots from contact with their families.
Qatar rejected the claims, saying its search-and-rescue teams recovered the remains of one pilot and that Iran was invited in April for a briefing but did not respond.
Iran asserted control over the Strait of Hormuz after the war began on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes, and indirect talks with the US on reopening the waterway have stalled.
- Who
- Iran and Qatar, whose officials dispute the fate of three downed Iranian pilots; the latest attack targeted a tanker owned by Abu Dhabi's state-owned company ADNOC.
- What
- A third ADNOC-owned tanker was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz in the past week, while Iran accused Qatar of holding three missing Iranian pilots and Qatar rejected the claim.
- When
- The tanker attack was reported on Saturday; a bulk carrier hull strike was reported on Friday; the pilots went missing in March, and the war began on February 28.
- Where
- The Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf; the pilots dispute involves Iran and Qatar.
- Why
- The events follow the war that began on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes on Iran, after which Iran asserted control over the strait, where talks on reopening it have stalled.
Iran's Position
Qatar's Position
Missing Iranian pilots
Iran's Position
Iran's Armed Forces General Staff says 'credible information' shows Qatari forces captured the three pilots alive and are holding them, blocking contact with families and Iranian officials.
Qatar's Position
Qatar says the pilots' jets were shot down, search-and-rescue teams recovered the remains of one pilot, and Iran was invited in April to receive a briefing but did not respond.
Control of the Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Position
Iran says it asserted control over the Strait of Hormuz after the war began on February 28 and is separately discussing management of the waterway with Oman.
Qatar's Position
The US says Washington controls the strait, which had been considered an international waterway; indirect talks between Iran and the US on reopening it have stalled.
Fourth pilot's death
Iran's Position
Iran says a fourth pilot was killed while on a mission 'targeting an enemy military base in Qatar.'
Qatar's Position
Qatar rejected Iran's claims; it said on March 2 that its air force shot down two Iranian bombers as Tehran attacked countries hosting US military bases.
- Attacked vessel
- A tanker owned by Abu Dhabi's state-owned ADNOC; the third attack on an ADNOC-operated vessel in the Strait of Hormuz in the past week
- Missing pilots
- Three Iranian pilots who went missing in March after their jets were downed
- Iran's accusation
- Qatar captured the three pilots alive and is holding them
- Qatar's response
- Claims rejected; remains of one pilot recovered; Iran invited in April for a briefing but did not respond
- Claim made by
- Brigadier General Mohammad Bagherzadeh, commander of the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff's committee for missing personnel
- Letter recipient
- International Committee of the Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger
- War began
- February 28, with US and Israeli strikes on Iran
- Pre-war strait traffic
- About one-fifth of the world's traded oil and natural gas passed through the Strait of Hormuz