According to two American officials who told the US media Axios, at least two missiles were fired by the Iranian military towards merchant ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz on the evening of July 6, local time.
On the 6th, a British maritime trade agency reported that an oil tanker was hit by unidentified flying objects while sailing south near the coast of Oman in the Hormuz Strait, causing a fire.
American officials said that another merchant ship was attacked by Iranian missiles. The official stated that both ships were severely damaged, but there were no casualties.
According to CCTV News, audio recordings from the ship's radio public channel near the Hormuz Strait show that at dawn on the 7th local time, a liquefied natural gas transport ship sent multiple distress signals after being attacked in the Gulf of Oman. The signals indicated that there was a fire in the engine room, and the crew was safe.
According to Axios, Iran's renewed attacks could render the memorandum of understanding signed between the US and Iran invalid. It is very likely that the US will launch retaliatory strikes.
Before the war broke out, the Strait of Hormuz was an important international waterway where ships could freely navigate, transporting oil and natural gas from the Persian Gulf to various parts of the world. After the United States and Israel initiated the war against Iran, Iran blocked this crucial trade route, leading to a surge in energy prices.
Earlier reports indicated that in order to manage maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian government has established a multi-tier and complex system for allowing passage.
Reuters once quoted sources saying that this new system assigns clear priorities: priority is given to ships belonging to countries that have close relations with Iran, such as Russia and China. Next are ships from countries close to Iran, such as India and Pakistan. Finally, through bilateral negotiations between countries, other ships are allowed to pass smoothly.
In May, Iran established a new agency called the Persian Gulf Strait Authority to manage the Strait of Hormuz. This agency reiterated Iran's “management and supervision scope” regarding the Strait, emphasizing that vessels must coordinate with Iran and obtain permits before navigating in the relevant waters.
