Axios: Iran fires missiles against commercial ships in Strait of Hormuz
Axios, citing two U.S. government officials, reported that Iran's Revolutionary Guards fired at least 2 missiles on commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz Monday night.
The report cited a U.S. government official as saying that two commercial ships sustained?significant damages but no casualties.
The U.S. Central Command has not responded to the request for comment. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency, UKMTO, reported early on Tuesday morning that a tanker had been hit by a projectile while travelling southbound around 8 nautical miles (15??km) east from Oman's Limah. No casualties or adverse environmental effects were reported.
This?development follows indirect U.S. - Iran talks that ended last week with no public signs of progress toward a 'lasting peace.' This was despite a sixty-day ceasefire meant to create space for diplomatic negotiations following U.S. - Israeli strikes which sparked the conflict. Donald Trump, the president of the United States, said that the United States will either "finish the deal" with Iran or reach an agreement. This comes after indirect U.S.-Iran talks ended last week without any public sign of progress toward a?lasting peace.
The Wall Street Journal, which obtained the recording, reported that Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned via maritime radio at the weekend: "Our drones and missiles are ready for you."
The WSJ reported that one of the 'attacked vessels' was Al Rekayyat. It is a liquefied gas tanker managed and owned by Nakilat, the shipping arm for?Qatar LNG. They also said the ship had suffered a hit 'on the port -side, near the top of its engine room.
"Smoky engine room on fire. No further damage could be assessed. The recording by WSJ stated that all crew members were safe and had been mustered to the starboard side.
WSJ reported that the vessel was attacked at the mouth of strait in the Gulf of Oman. Investors are 'keeping a close watch on the talks between the U.S., Iran and the Gulf of Oman over the fate of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Reporting by Jasper Ward and Costas Pitas; Editing and proofreading by Christian Martinez and Lincoln Feast.
(source: Reuters)
