Iran fires missiles at commercial ships in Strait of Hormuz, testing fragile ceasefire with US
Iran's Revolutionary Guards fired at least two missiles at commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Monday night, damaging two ships but causing no casualties, according to US officials. The attack tests a fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran as President Trump threatens to 'finish the job' if no deal is reached.
The attack
Two commercial ships were struck by Iranian missiles while passing through the Strait of Hormuz on the night of 6 July, US officials told Axios. Both vessels suffered significant damage, but no casualties were reported. One of the ships was identified by the Wall Street Journal as the Al Rekayyat, a Qatari-flagged LNG tanker owned by Nakilat. A recording obtained by the Journal captured a crew member reporting an engine-room fire and heavy smoke, with all crew mustered safely on the starboard side.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued a separate advisory early on 7 July, stating that a tanker was hit by an unidentified projectile on its port side about 8 nautical miles east of Limah, Oman, causing a fire. No casualties or environmental impact were reported. It was not immediately clear whether the UKMTO report referred to one of the two ships cited by US officials.
Ceasefire under strain
The strikes are the latest test of a 60-day ceasefire that took effect around 20 June, intended to create space for diplomacy after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran in late February. Indirect talks between Washington and Tehran ended last week without visible progress. The ceasefire had already been challenged by sporadic outbreaks of fighting, including another round of Iranian attacks on ships roughly two weeks ago that prompted US retaliation.
The United States would either reach a deal with Iran or 'finish the job.'
Diplomatic fallout
Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, responded to Trump's threat by writing on X that negotiations on a final deal would not begin if threats continued, adding: 'Honour your signature.' His post referred to an interim agreement signed last month that calls on both sides to refrain from the threat or use of force.
Negotiations on final deal will not commence if threats continue. Honour your signature.
Trump made his remarks while en route to a NATO summit in Turkey, where discussions about the war were expected. He has previously criticised NATO members for not supporting the United States in the conflict.
Shipping and oil
Before the war, the Strait of Hormuz carried about a fifth of the world's oil. Tehran effectively blockaded the waterway after the February strikes, and the US Navy imposed its own blockade of Iranian ports. Traffic has picked up since the ceasefire, but remains fragile. From Friday through Sunday, 108 ships transited the strait, 21 fewer than the previous three days, according to maritime data firm Kpler.
- US and Israel launch strikes on Iran, triggering war; Khamenei killed
- Preliminary 60-day ceasefire agreement goes into effect
- Indirect US-Iran talks end without public sign of progress
- Iran fires missiles at two commercial ships in Strait of Hormuz
Over the weekend, Iran's Revolutionary Guard broadcast a warning to ships via maritime radio, a recording of which was obtained by the Wall Street Journal.
Our missiles and drones are ready to fire at you.
Funeral and pause in talks
Negotiations have been suspended as Iran holds a days-long funeral ceremony for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war. Tuesday marked the third day of ceremonies in Tehran. Iranian officials have not publicly commented on the latest strikes.
