Iran blamed for missile attack on commercial ships in Strait of Hormuz

An LNG tanker and a crude oil tanker were struck by an unknown projectile off the coast of Oman, sparking a fire on board. US officials attributed the attack to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, and the incident took place at a delicate moment as US-Iran peace talks continue.

Scraper SystemJuly 07, 2026, 07:52 PM

Iran blamed for missile attack on commercial ships in Strait of Hormuz

An attack on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz has once again highlighted tensions in the region and the fragility of US-Iran peace negotiations. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a tanker was hit by an unknown projectile off the coast of Limah, Oman, and a fire broke out on board.

The news site Axios, citing two unnamed US officials, wrote that Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) fired at least two missiles at commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The officials said the two ships sustained serious damage but there were no casualties.

Sources speaking to Reuters said one of the tankers hit was the Qatari-flagged LNG carrier "Al Rekayyat" and the other was a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker. It was stated that the fire that broke out in the engine room of the first ship posed an explosion risk.

Iranian state television claimed the tanker continued despite warnings, but Tehran did not directly claim responsibility for the attack. No official statement on the matter came from US Central Command (CENTCOM) or the IRGC.

Attack casts shadow over peace process

The attack occurred at a time when delicate talks aimed at ending the war, which began on February 28 between the US and Iran, were ongoing. The signed memorandum of understanding provided for a 60-day ceasefire and negotiations for a permanent agreement.

According to data from the tracking company Kpler, a total of 108 ships transited the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend. Before the war, 120-140 ships passed through the strait daily, but traffic had dropped to as low as just 2 tankers per day at the peak of the war.

Iran has restricted transits through the strait since the start of the war, and in June the US also began a naval blockade of Iranian ports. Despite the memorandum of understanding, it is noted that ship traffic has not fully recovered due to uncertainty over mines in the strait and commercial risks.

Future of negotiations uncertain

Experts say the provisions of the US-Iran memorandum regarding the strait are vague and that the latest attack could disrupt the peace process. The indirect talks that concluded in Qatar last week did not yield a permanent agreement.

Prof. Mohsen Milani from the University of South Florida said Iran is trying to increase its bargaining power by geographically weaponizing Hormuz, while Washington is trying to limit Iran's control under the principle of freedom of navigation.

US President Trump said in the Oval Office, "We will either make a deal or we will 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 said such threats violate the memorandum and stressed that if threats continue, negotiations for a final agreement will not begin.

Source: Al Jazeera

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Iran blamed for missile attack on commercial ships in Strait of Hormuz