The largest warship in the Iranian navy caught fire and later sank on June 2 in the Gulf of Oman under unclear circumstances.
- The oiler replenishment ship IRIS Kharg caught fire near the Iranian port of Jask.
- The ship Kharg was named after the island that serves as the main oil terminal for Iran.
- Built in the UK and launched in 1977, Kharg is Iran’s largest naval vessel in terms of tonnage.
About Gulf of Oman
- The Gulf of Oman connects to the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow channel that is one of the world’s most important shipping lanes.
- It has been at the centre of rising animosity between Iran and Western countries – including the US and the UK – in recent years.
