Gulf of Oman: Ships on fire near Strait of Hormuz amid Israel-Iran conflict? Photos emerge

Several social media users cited photos to claim that three ships were on fire in the Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz

Updated on: Jun 17, 2025, 10:42:23 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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As President Donald Trump returned from the G7 summit on Monday, several social media users cited photos to claim that three ships were on fire in the Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz. Authorities are yet to confirm these claims. Hindustan Times cannot verify the authenticity of the photos at the moment.

Social media users said three ships were on fire in the Gulf of Oman (Unsplash)

We checked NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) Map to find three red blots in the Gulf of Oman. However, we couldn't verify if the ships were on fire.

British maritime security firm Ambrey said it was aware of an incident 22 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates, near the Strait of Hormuz.

Posting photos on social media one person wrote: “Photos are currently circulating which appear to show three ships on fire off the coast of Iran in the Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz. NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) Map appearing to confirm three fires in the Gulf of Oman.”

“According to NASA FIRMS, there are three heat signatures coming from vessels in the Gulf of Oman, entering the Straight of Hormuz,” another one added on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.

Where is the Gulf of Oman and why is it important?

The Gulf of Oman, located between Oman, Iran, Pakistan, and the UAE, connects the Arabian Sea to the Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz. It’s critical in the Israel-Iran conflict as 20% of global oil flows through this chokepoint. Iran’s threats to close the Strait could disrupt oil markets, impacting Israel and global economies, escalating tensions.

This comes as US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Fox News that President Trump was still aiming for a nuclear deal with Iran even as hostilities have escalated between Tehran and Tel Aviv.

"Of course," Hegseth said after he was asked whether Trump was still aiming for a nuclear deal with Iran.

"We are postured defensively in the region to be strong in pursuit of a peace deal. And we certainly hope that's what happens here," he added.

In a social media post on Monday, Trump said "Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran," citing what he said was the country's rejection of a deal to curb nuclear weapons development.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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