Iran ceasefire tested as cargo ship catches fire after being hit off Qatar's coast

📌 Summary:

• A cargo ship caught fire after being struck by an unknown projectile 23 nautical miles (43 km) northeast of Qatar's capital Doha — latest incident testing the month-old Iran-US ceasefire
• The fire was small and was extinguished; no casualties reported; ship's owner and flag not disclosed; no group claimed responsibility
• UAE blamed Iran for the attack; the incident represents a direct threat to the fragile ceasefire that the Trump administration says remains in effect
• Context: A US-Iran war began in early 2026; a ceasefire was agreed approximately one month before this incident, but Iran has continued restricting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz
• Strait of Hormuz significance: ~20% of global oil supply passes through it; Iran's control over access is a key geopolitical leverage point
• The attack is part of a pattern — multiple ship attacks in the Persian Gulf in the week preceding this incident
• Trump said the situation was "under control" but acknowledged active monitoring; Dutch, British, and other European nationals were among those evacuated from the affected vessel
• Diplomatic status: Negotiations ongoing for a formal deal to end the war and address Iran's nuclear programme; Trump rejected Iran's ceasefire counterproposal as "unacceptable"
• India's stakes: India is a major importer of Gulf oil; the Strait of Hormuz disruption directly affects India's energy security and freight costs