One person was killed and three others were injured after a merchant vessel was struck in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, Iranian authorities said, as tensions between Iran and the United States continue to focus on the strategic waterway.

The vessel was hit at about 5am local time, or 0130 GMT, off the coasts of Hengam and Qeshm islands, according to Amir Teymouri, governor of Qeshm city. The governor made the comments to Iranian state television.

“A merchant vessel was struck around 5:00 am (0130 GMT) this morning off the coasts of Hengam and Qeshm islands. One person was killed and three others were injured,” Teymouri said.

He did not identify what caused the strike or say who was responsible.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which monitors maritime activity and issues security alerts to vessels, said on Sunday that it had received a report of a vessel being struck by an “unknown projectile” while travelling through the Strait of Hormuz.

UKMTO later said a fire had broken out aboard the vessel and that local authorities were assisting with the evacuation of its crew. The agency advised ships operating in the area to exercise caution while investigations were underway.

“Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO whilst authorities are investigating,” the agency said.

The incident adds to concerns about maritime safety in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important routes for the transportation of oil and gas. The narrow waterway lies between Iran and Oman and connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Arabian Sea.

Qeshm, Iran’s largest island, is located near the Strait and has strategic importance because of its position close to major shipping routes.

The waterway has been at the centre of tensions between Washington and Tehran since late February. The confrontation has raised concerns among shipping companies, energy markets and governments about the safety of commercial vessels passing through the region.

Any disruption to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz could have wider consequences for global energy supplies because large volumes of crude oil and petroleum products move through the waterway each day.

Authorities had not immediately provided further details about the vessel involved, including its nationality, cargo or the extent of the damage. The cause of the strike and the identity of those responsible remained unclear as investigations continued.

Swedes are voting on Sunday in a closely contested parliamentary election that could strengthen the country’s far right and potentially bring the Sweden Democrats into government for the first time.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is seeking another term, but his centre-right government faces a strong challenge from Social Democratic leader and former prime minister Magdalena Andersson. Opinion polls have indicated a tight race between the two main political blocs, leaving the outcome uncertain.

Kristersson currently leads a minority coalition consisting of his centre-right Moderate Party, the Christian Democrats and the Liberals. The government depends on parliamentary support from the Sweden Democrats, a far-right party that has gained substantial influence in Swedish politics in recent years.

The Sweden Democrats have supported Kristersson’s government without formally joining the coalition. Their potential entry into government has become one of the central questions surrounding the election.

Kristersson has said that if his bloc wins, he could consider forming a governing coalition that includes the Sweden Democrats directly. Such a move would represent a major shift in Swedish politics and give the party formal access to executive power for the first time.

The Sweden Democrats have moved from the political margins into a central position in parliamentary negotiations, increasing their influence over issues including immigration, crime and national policy.

Andersson’s Social Democrats are seeking to return to government and challenge the centre-right alliance. The election is expected to be closely watched because even relatively small changes in support could determine which bloc is able to form a government.

Around eight million people are eligible to vote in Sweden, which has a population of approximately 10.6 million. More than half of eligible voters had already cast ballots in advance, reflecting the country’s traditionally high participation in elections.

Polling stations are scheduled to remain open from 8am until 8pm local time on Sunday. Two exit polls are expected shortly after voting ends, while preliminary results are due several hours later.

The election comes as Swedish voters focus on a range of domestic issues, including healthcare, crime, the economy and immigration. The campaign has also highlighted disagreements over the country’s future political direction and the growing role of the Sweden Democrats.

A strong performance by the far-right party could increase pressure on Kristersson to bring it into a formal coalition. If that happens, Sweden would enter a new political phase after years in which mainstream parties largely kept the Sweden Democrats outside government.

The final result will determine whether Kristersson can remain prime minister or whether Andersson can lead the country back under Social Democratic rule.

Two Azerbaijani sailors were killed after a Somali-flagged tugboat was struck by drones near the Ukrainian port of Odesa, in the latest attack on civilian shipping in the Black Sea.

The tugboat TEDY, owned by Mert Marine Corporation, was initially hit near Odesa on Tuesday before being targeted in two further drone attacks overnight while sailing toward the Romanian port of Constanta.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the deaths of crew members Aslan Aliyev and Asim Gasimov. Two other Azerbaijani sailors, Imran Novruzov and Rauf Aliyev, were taken to hospital in the Ukrainian city of Chornomorsk with burn injuries. Six additional crew members received medical treatment at the scene.

The vessel had 10 crew members aboard, including Azerbaijani, Turkish, German and Ukrainian nationals.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said it was coordinating with diplomatic missions and relevant authorities following the incident. It said steps were being taken to repatriate the injured sailors and complete procedures concerning those who died. The ministry did not assign responsibility for the attack.

Ukraine’s Ministry for Restoration, Infrastructure and Transport said Russia was responsible, describing the incident as part of a continuing campaign against civilian vessels and port infrastructure.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Wednesday that its forces had struck two cargo ships heading toward Odesa and a tugboat. Moscow claimed the vessels were transporting military supplies. Kyiv did not comment on that assertion.

The incident occurred near Chornomorsk, one of Ukraine’s major commercial ports and an important terminal for the country’s grain exports.

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allowed Ukrainian agricultural products to reach international markets under arrangements supervised by the United Nations and Turkey. Russia withdrew from the agreement in July 2023.

Since then, Russian attacks have repeatedly targeted Odesa and other port facilities, disrupting shipping and increasing risks for commercial vessels operating in the region.

Attacks involving merchant ships have intensified since July, with several vessels flying the flags of countries not directly involved in the war reportedly coming under attack. The incidents have raised concerns over the safety of international crews operating in the Black Sea.

The latest strike also adds to a series of incidents affecting Azerbaijani sailors. Five Azerbaijani citizens were killed in attacks on two vessels in the Sea of Azov in June.

The deaths aboard the TEDY are expected to increase scrutiny of the risks faced by civilian shipping and foreign crews operating near Ukrainian ports as the war continues.