Iranian warship accidentally hit by 1 dead, 15 wounded

An Iranian warship was accidentally hit by a rocket fired during naval exercises in Oman Bay, causing a sailor's death and wounding 15 others. The event took place a port some 1,270km southeast of Tehran.

The incident, which comes amid tensions raised between Iran and the United States.

State television described the missile attack as an accident. Twelve sailors were admitted to a local hospital, while the other three suffered minor injuries, state news agency IRNA reported. The 5th American Navy fleet, which monitors the region, did not immediately respond to a demand for comment.

The Konarak warship, produced in the Netherlands, has been in operation since 1988. He usually transports a crew of 20 sailors. Iran regularly conducts exercises in the region, which is near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of its oil passes the world. The incident follows tensions raised between Tehran and Washington since US President Donald Trump in 2018 withdrew unilaterally from a historic agreement between Iran and world powers and imposed sanctions on Iran. Trump says the deal was badly negotiated and that it enabled Iran to possess nuclear weapons.

The American president has called for a new agreement, but Iran has rejected.