"Qatar was targeted... by three cruise missiles launched from Iran," the Gulf state's defence ministry said in a statement.

The military "intercepted two of the cruise missiles, while the third missile struck an oil tanker leased to QatarEnergy in Qatar's territorial waters," it said.

"Coordination was established with relevant authorities to evacuate the tanker, which had 21 crew members on board, without any human casualties," the defence ministry added.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards later confirmed they had hit the tanker, the Aqua 1, claiming in a statement cited by state television the vessel was targeted because it belonged to Israel.

Gulf countries have faced repeated drone and missile salvos from Iran over the past month in response to US and Israeli strikes that began at the end of February.

Iran has targeted hydrocarbon infrastructure in the oil-rich Gulf nations as well as shipping, effectively closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of global oil usually passes.

QatarEnergy said in a statement the Aqua 1, a fuel oil tanker, had been "the subject of a missile attack in the northern territorial waters of the State of Qatar in the early morning hours of Wednesday".

It confirmed no crew members had been injured and there was "no impact on the environment as a result of this incident".

According to the British marine security agency UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the incident occurred 17 nautical miles north of Doha.

The agency later said "the vessel was struck by two projectiles" north of Ras Laffan, the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) hub.

"One projectile caused a fire, which was extinguished, and another "remains unexploded within the vessel's engine room", UKMTO said.

Private security firms Ambrey and Vanguard also reported unexploded ordnance within the tanker's engine room, adding that authorities were investigating.

Earlier, UKMTO said the tanker had been "hit by unknown projectile on the port side causing damage to the hull above water line".

csp/rh

QatarEnergy