Iran resumes attacks on commercial ships in Strait of Hormuz after ceasefire expires

Iran's military fired at least two missiles at commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Monday night, according to two US officials cited by Axios. The attacks came after a one-week agreement between the United States and Iran to halt strikes in the strait had expired, putting a fragile memorandum of understanding at risk of collapse.

A tanker travelling near Oman's coast was hit by an unknown projectile and caught fire, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO). A separate commercial vessel was also struck by an Iranian missile, a US official told Axios. Both ships suffered damage, though no casualties were reported in either incident.

UKMTO reported that a tanker was hit on its port side while moving south about 8 nautical miles east of Oman's Limah, causing a fire. The agency added that no casualties or environmental impact had been reported. The renewed attacks come just weeks after Washington and Tehran signed a 14-point agreement intended to de-escalate tensions in the region.

The resumption of Iranian attacks puts the memorandum of understanding, signed less than three weeks ago, at risk of unravelling. A US official told Axios that the US is likely to respond with strikes against Iranian targets.

The attacks follow a round of indirect talks between the US and Iran in Doha last week that ended without progress on the Strait of Hormuz issue. CNN reported that Iran has used the strait as leverage since US and Israeli strikes on Tehran triggered retaliatory Iranian strikes and wider regional conflict. Tehran and Washington exchanged strikes even after signing the 14-point agreement in June, according to CNN.

On Sunday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said its navy had deployed patrol boats to block the 'Omani route,' according to Iranian state media and a Telegram channel affiliated with the IRGC. Citing tracking data from MarineTraffic, CNN reported that nearly a third of vessels that crossed the strait between Friday and Sunday used a route along the coast of Oman. MarineTraffic said 108 boats crossed the strait during that period, of which 30 including crude and LPG tankers took the Omani route.

Traffic through the strait, which carries about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied gas supplies, was highest on Friday with 43 crossings, followed by 34 on Saturday and 31 on Sunday, according to MarineTraffic data cited by CNN. MarineTraffic described the activity as 'operational but fragmented,' noting it should be read alongside the ongoing security and diplomatic situation.

Iran has also said that crew members must obtain permission to pass through routes approved by its officials. The situation remains fluid, with the potential for further escalation as the US considers its response.