Two commercial vessels were reportedly damaged after U.S. officials said Iran fired missiles at ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz, raising the risk of renewed military escalation in the Persian Gulf.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Iran fired at least two missiles at commercial vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday night, according to two U.S. officials cited by Axios, renewing concerns about security in one of the world’s most important shipping corridors.
The reported strikes hit two commercial ships transiting the strategic waterway after a temporary pause in hostilities had expired. Both vessels sustained significant damage, though a U.S. official said no casualties had been reported.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints and carries a substantial share of global oil shipments. Any threat to traffic through the narrow passage can affect energy markets, commercial shipping and regional security.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said Monday that it received a report of a tanker traveling south near Oman’s coast along the strait being struck by an unknown projectile. The impact sparked a fire aboard the vessel.
A U.S. official told Axios that a second commercial ship was also hit by an Iranian missile.
The attacks came less than three weeks after Tehran agreed under a memorandum of understanding to halt attacks in the waterway. Axios reported that the new strikes threaten to undercut that agreement.
The incidents also followed the expiration of a separate one-week agreement between the United States and Iran to stop attacks in the strategic passage.
Tensions between Washington and Tehran had already remained high after weeks of diplomatic efforts focused on reducing the risk to commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf. The latest reported missile strikes are expected to increase the likelihood of a U.S. military response.
Axios reported that the United States is likely to respond with strikes against Iranian targets. U.S. officials had not publicly announced any retaliatory action as of Monday night.
The attacks followed indirect talks between U.S. and Iranian officials in Doha, Qatar, last week. According to Axios, those negotiations ended without significant progress on resolving disputes over security in the Strait of Hormuz.
The reported strikes leave the United States and Iran facing renewed pressure over maritime security as commercial vessels continue to move through a waterway central to global energy supplies.
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