Nearly two weeks after the US attacked Iran over an alleged attack on a commercial vessel near the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran’s military fired two missiles at commercial ships transiting the strait on Monday night, according to two US officials.
Nearly two weeks after the US attacked Iran over an alleged attack on a commercial vessel near the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported, citing two US officials, that Tehran fired two missiles at commercial ships transiting the strait on Monday night.
The two ships suffered significant damage but had no casualties, the report said, citing a US official.
Axios added that Washington is likely to retaliate with strikes against Iranian targets.
Iran fires at commercial vessels
The reported attack by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatens the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was signed less than three weeks ago when Tehran agreed to halt attacks in Hormuz. This key waterway has been a sticking point in negotiations between the US and Iran.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) said early on Tuesday that a vessel was hit by an unknown projectile on its port side while travelling southbound about 8 nautical miles (15 km) east of Oman’s Limah, causing a fire, Reuters reported, adding that no casualties or environmental impact had been reported. A US official told Axios that an Iranian missile had struck a second commercial vessel.
Reuters cited a maritime radio recording from the IRGC over the weekend, in which it warned commercial ships, saying, “Our missiles and drones are ready to fire at you.”
Attacked ship identified
According to The Wall Street Journal, one of the vessels that came under attack is Al Rekayyat, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker owned and managed by Nakilat, the shipping arm of Qatar’s LNG industry.
The vessel was at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, in the Gulf of Oman, when it was attacked, the report added.
Donald Trump warns Iran
Earlier on Monday (local time), US President Donald Trump said that either the United States would reach a deal with the Islamic Republic or “finish the job,” renewing his threat of fresh military action as Tehran projects defiance after the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
He added, “We’re either going to make a deal, or we’re going to finish the job. OK. And it won’t be tough to finish the job. I’d rather make a deal, because I don’t want to affect 91 million people.”
Following Trump’s warning, Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, called Trump “delusional.” Zolqadr said, “We can knock down their bridges in one hour, we can knock out their energy supply…. They don’t have any money now. We haven’t given them any money,” and added, “Iranians are unfamiliar with the language of threats. So speak to the Iranian people with respect; otherwise, we will respond in another language.”
The development comes roughly a week after Washington and Tehran concluded indirect talks in Doha, Qatar.
US-Iran indirect talks conclude
The indirect talks, which concluded without any public sign of a breakthrough towards achieving lasting peace despite a 60-day ceasefire, aimed to create space for diplomacy after the US and Israel launched strikes in late February targeting Iran.
Trump hailed the indirect talks between Washington and Tehran, saying the two sides have had very good meetings. He added, “They’ve had very good meetings, and we’ll see. We hit them very hard for three nights, as you know, but we’re getting along very well, so I call it denuclearization, and it’s all taking place.” He, however, did not specify what, if any, breakthroughs were achieved.
About the Author
Swati Gandhi
Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.
Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.
At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.
Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.
