Muscat, Oman. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards fired at least two missiles at commercial ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday night, Axios reported, citing two U.S. officials. A separate British maritime advisory said a tanker caught fire after being struck by an unknown projectile east of Oman’s Limah early on Tuesday.
Reported attacks on commercial vessels
Axios reported, citing two U.S. officials, that at least two missiles were fired at commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday night. The report cited a U.S. official as saying that two commercial ships suffered significant damage but there were no casualties.
Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said early on Tuesday that a tanker was hit on its port side while travelling southbound about 8 nautical miles, or 15 km, east of Limah. The strike caused a fire, but no casualties or environmental impact had been reported.
Verification and official response
Reuters said it could not immediately verify the Axios report or determine whether the ships described in that report included the tanker cited in the UKMTO advisory. U.S. Central Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Risks to shipping in the region
The reports highlighted risks to shipping around the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which about a fifth of global oil consumption passes. Commercial vessels have come under attack during the war that began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, despite an interim agreement that included safe-passage provisions.
Diplomatic backdrop
Indirect U.S.-Iran talks ended last week without any public sign of progress toward a lasting peace, despite a 60-day ceasefire intended to create space for diplomacy after the U.S. and Israeli strikes that triggered the conflict.
President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States would either reach a deal with Iran or “finish the job,” renewing his threat of military action as Tehran projected defiance following the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Warning to ships
The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned ships via maritime radio over the weekend that “our missiles and drones are ready to fire at you,” quoting from a recording it said it had obtained.
