Iran fires missiles ‘Unknown projectile’ strikes commercial ships in Strait of Hormuz Axios reports

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards launched at least two missiles at commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz Monday night, Axios said, citing two US officials.

According to the story, a US official stated two commercial ships were damaged but there were no injuries.

Britain’s maritime security service said a tanker caught fire after being hit by an unidentified weapon east of Oman’s Limah early Tuesday.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) said early on Tuesday the tanker was hit on its port side while heading around 8 nautical miles (15 km) east of Limah, igniting a fire. No casualties or environmental damage was reported.

Reuters was not immediately able to corroborate the Axios claim or establish if the ships referred to in that article included the tanker referenced in the UKMTO advisory.

The U.S. Central Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The studies highlighted the dangers for shipping across the Strait of Hormuz, the small channel between Iran and Oman that carries nearly a fifth of global oil consumption. The conflict that began with the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, despite an interim deal that included safe-passage clauses, has seen commercial vessels attacked.

The indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran last week ended without any public indication of progress toward a durable settlement, despite a 60-day ceasefire meant to allow space for diplomacy in the wake of U.S. and Israeli strikes that sparked the conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday the U.S. will either make a deal with Iran or “finish the job,” reiterating his threat of military action as Tehran projects defiance following the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.READY TO SHOOT AT YOU’”

The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened ships via maritime radio over the weekend that “our missiles and drones are ready to fire at you,” citing a recording it obtained.

One of the vessels under attack was apparently ⁠Al Rekayyat, a liquefied natural gas tanker owned and operated by Nakilat, also known as Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd, which has one of the world’s largest LNG shipping fleets, the WSJ said, adding the ship was struck on the port side, at the top of the engine room.Engine room fire, smoke-filled. Unable to evaluate additional damage. “All crew are safe and mustered on the starboard side,” the WSJ quoted from a tape.

The WSJ stated the vessel was targeted in the Gulf of Oman at the mouth of the strait.

QatarEnergy, Nakilat and Qatar’s International Media Office did not immediately respond to calls for comment outside of usual business hours.

Investors are watching discussions between the U.S. and Iran about the future of shipping via the Strait of Hormuz and the resumption of Gulf oil exports.