Tensions in the Persian Gulf escalated again after Iran's Revolutionary Guard launched missiles at commercial vessels navigating the strategic Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important maritime corridors for the transport of oil and gas.
At least two missiles struck two commercial ships, causing significant damage. However, no casualties were reported among their crews.
Hours earlier, the British agency United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), responsible for monitoring navigation safety in the region, had reported that an "unidentified projectile" hit a tanker off the coast of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz, igniting a fire on board.
The Strait of Hormuz
Subsequently, The Wall Street Journal identified one of the attacked vessels as the Al Rekayyat, a Qatari-owned LNG carrier dedicated to transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG). According to the report, the missile struck near the engine room, causing a fire that was brought under control. There were also no injuries in this case.
Just hours after the incident, Iran officially confirmed that its forces had attacked at least one of the ships passing through the strait. Iranian state television stated that the military action occurred after the ship ignored warnings issued by Iranian forces deployed in the area.
The attack comes at a particularly delicate moment. Although Washington and Tehran continue to negotiate a permanent agreement following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, military tensions have not dissipated. In recent weeks, the United States has attacked Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz twice in response to alleged ceasefire violations by the Islamic Republic.
In this context, President Donald Trump recently warned that the United States might be forced to "militarily complete the job" if Iran continues to violate the ceasefire.
The situation raises international concern due to the enormous strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz. Approximately 20% of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas trade passes through this maritime passage. During the regional war in the Middle East, the blockade imposed by Iran virtually paralyzed maritime transit, causing a sharp increase in international energy prices.
While Tehran had reopened the maritime route following the preliminary agreement reached with the United States to suspend hostilities, the recent attack on commercial vessels raises doubts again about the security of one of the planet's most sensitive energy routes and threatens to reignite volatility in international markets.
