The Strait of Hormuz.Image: Elke Scholiers / Getty
Jul 7, 2026, 3:34 amJul 7, 2026, 4:16 am
The crew of a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz has reported an attack on their ship. A fire broke out on board, the British Merchant Shipping Safety Authority (UKMTO) said, citing information from the ship’s crew. The tanker was hit by an “unknown projectile” around eight nautical miles off the Omani coastal town of Lima. Nobody was injured.
It initially remained unclear who was behind the attack. The portal “Axios” reported, citing two US officials, that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard fired at least two missiles at freighters. One of the officials said that two ships were badly damaged by the shelling. There was initially no official reaction from the US government.
Just over a week ago, a similar incident led to military attacks by the USA against Iran. Among other things, air defense positions, drone depots and surveillance infrastructure were attacked, said the responsible regional command Centcom.
Strait of Hormuz central point in the framework agreement
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which is important for global trade in oil, gas and fertilizer, is a central element of the framework agreement that representatives from Washington and Tehran agreed to almost three weeks ago. The USA demands free passage for all ships without fees. After Israeli and American attacks on Iran began in February, the Iranian side effectively brought shipping traffic in the strait to a standstill with threats and attacks.
Only on Thursday did the Iranian military reaffirm its claim that sole control of the Strait of Hormuz belongs to Iran alone. All oil tankers and merchant ships are obliged to use only the route designated by the Islamic Republic, according to a statement from the military leadership carried by Iranian media. “Any violation of this requirement (…) will be met with an immediate and decisive response from the armed forces,” it said. (sda/dpa)