According to U.S. officials, three commercial vessels were targeted in the Strait of Hormuz between Monday and Tuesday, including the Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker Wedyan. A U.S. official confirmed that the tanker sustained damage, although no casualties were immediately reported.
The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also confirmed that a commercial vessel was struck by a projectile off the coast of Oman on Monday, triggering a fire on board. The crew was reported safe.
On Tuesday, another oil tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz was hit by an unidentified projectile. UKMTO said the vessel suffered structural damage but reported no casualties or environmental pollution.
The agency has advised all vessels passing through the strategic waterway to exercise extreme caution and report any suspicious activity.
Meanwhile, Iranian state media acknowledged some of the incidents, claiming that the vessels had ignored repeated warnings from Iranian forces and continued using the southern shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz in violation of Iranian instructions.
The IRGC Navy struck a vessel attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz via the Omani maritime route without Iran’s permission. Iran is most likely responsible for hitting the Qatari-owned LNG tanker ‘AL REKAYYAT’, which ignored repeated warnings and called the U.S. Navy for… pic.twitter.com/CyOgMOj9Bv
— RNA-Breaking (@RNA_English) July 7, 2026
U.S. officials also confirmed that the Al Rekayyat, a Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, was among the vessels targeted on Monday.
The latest attacks have raised fresh concerns over the fragile ceasefire and ongoing diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran.
Just days earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington had given Tehran "a week off" during the funeral ceremonies of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to allow negotiations to resume after the mourning period.
Speaking during the U.S. Independence Day celebrations, Trump claimed that Iran was eager to reach an agreement. However, the latest attacks on commercial shipping have dealt a significant blow to diplomatic efforts.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world s most strategically important maritime routes, carrying nearly 20 percent of global seaborne crude oil exports.
It is worth noting that in June, the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding launching a 60-day negotiation process, under which both sides agreed to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to commercial shipping and suspend military operations.
The latest attacks have now cast fresh doubt over the future of that ceasefire and the broader diplomatic process.
