An attack on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz has escalated tensions in the region again. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) announced that a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile off the coast of Limah, Oman, on Monday night, causing a fire on board.
Citing two unnamed U.S. officials, Axios reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired at least two missiles at commercial vessels transiting the strait. Both ships suffered serious damage but there were no casualties, according to the officials.
Reuters reported that one of the hit ships was the Qatari-flagged LNG tanker "Al Rekayyat" and the other a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker. The fire in the engine room of the Qatari vessel was said to pose an explosion risk.
Iranian state television claimed the tanker continued despite warnings, but Tehran's administration did not claim responsibility for the attack. There was no immediate official statement from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) or the IRGC.
Shadow Over Peace Talks
The attack occurred as sensitive negotiations to end the war between the U.S. and Iran, which began on February 28, were ongoing. The memorandum of understanding signed by both sides envisioned a 60-day ceasefire and talks for a lasting deal.
According to data from tracking company Kpler, a total of 108 vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend of the attack. Before the war, 120 to 140 ships per day passed through the strait, but at the peak of the conflict, traffic dwindled to just two tankers a day.
Since the beginning of the war, Iran has restricted passage through the strait, and the U.S. began enforcing a naval blockade of Iranian ports in June. Despite the memorandum, shipping traffic has not fully normalized due to the mine danger and commercial risks in the strait.
Experts Warn
Experts say the provisions of the U.S.-Iran memorandum concerning the strait are unclear, and the latest attack could negatively impact the peace process. Indirect talks that ended in Qatar last week failed to yield a permanent agreement.
Professor Mohsen Milani from the University of South Florida said Iran is attempting to geographically weaponize the Strait of Hormuz to boost its bargaining leverage, while Washington is trying to limit Iran's control under the principle of freedom of navigation.
U.S. President Trump said in an Oval Office statement, "We'll either make a deal or finish it. Finishing it won't be hard. I prefer a deal because I don't want to affect 91 million people." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called such threats a violation of the memorandum, stressing that negotiations for a final agreement would not commence if the threats continue.
