Iran claims it struck an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, and other Mideast developments

South Korea says it is considering expanding a naval operation in the Gulf of Aden to protect its ships and oil-shipping routes, but it will not send troops to intervene in the Iran war. Iran says it struck an oil tanker trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz, while hundreds of thousands of people rallied in Tehran in the largest show of support for the government since the United States and Israel launched attacks in February.Meanwhile, South Korea says it is considering expanding a naval operation in the Gulf of Aden to protect its ships and oil-shipping routes, but it will not send troops to intervene in the Iran war.Here is the latest news from the Middle East on Friday. Full coverage is available here.Iran says it struck an oil tanker in the Strait of HormuzIran said it struck the Togo-flagged oil tanker Trend over what it described as an “illegal attempt” to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the state broadcaster, which cited the Revolutionary Guard Corps.The Associated Press could not immediately confirm the report.The Guard's navy warned that vessels attempting to pass through the strait without authorization would face “destruction,” the broadcaster said.

Tehran has asserted control over the waterway since the U.S. and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28.The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported a “security incident” overnight involving a vessel 16 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, which lies on the other side of the strait.

The crew was safe and no environmental impact was reported, the monitor said.It was not clear whether the UKMTO report referred to the attack claimed by Iran.The U.S. military has been escorting some commercial ships through the strait off Oman as the threat of Iranian attacks continues.More attacks reported in the straitSeparately, the UKMTO said a tanker in the strait was hit by an “unknown projectile,” causing a fire that was later extinguished. The crew was reported safe, with no immediate indication of environmental damage, it said.The AP could not independently confirm the incident, and there was no immediate claim from Iran.The monitor also said another tanker was struck Wednesday by an “unknown projectile” while transiting out of the strait, with the crew reported safe.

It was not clear why the report came later.Tehran rally vows support for IranHundreds of thousands of Iranians filled the streets of Tehran in the biggest rally since the war began in February, pledging to take up arms as “Janfaday-e Iran,” or those “who sacrifice their lives for Iran.”Iran’s gove…