Tanker in the Strait of Hormuz ablaze after attack – US-Iran talks stall

Statements and reactions

In parallel, the US news portal Axios reported, citing two US government officials, that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) had fired at least two missiles at cargo ships. One of the two officials said two ships had been severely damaged in the attacks. There was no official response from the US government at the time of reporting.

Iran is also suspected of having attacked at least two other ships in recent days that had used an alternative route near the Omani coast. Iran had repeatedly declared that only the route approved by it through the strait was safe, the reports continued.

The incident occurs against the backdrop of a conflict that has been ongoing since the end of February. After the start of Israeli-American strikes on targets in Iran, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards had largely brought shipping in the strait to a standstill through threats and attacks. In an airstrike on his official residence in Tehran on February 28, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed.

Impact on world trade

Since then, multi-day mourning ceremonies have been held for the killed Ayatollah, due to which negotiations between the US and Iran are currently suspended. These are to be continued in Qatar in the course of the week, according to the reports. The focus is a framework agreement that Washington and Tehran had signed roughly three weeks earlier and that provides for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Abbas Araqchi stated on the platform X that "negotiations on a final agreement will not begin if threats continue." He was referring to a statement by Donald Trump, who had previously threatened to "finish the job" if no agreement were reached.

The Strait of Hormuz is considered one of the most important routes for the global trade in oil, gas, and fertilizers. According to the data company Kpler, at least 108 ships passed through the strait on various routes over the past weekend. UKMTO advised ships to "proceed with caution and report any suspicious activity."

About a week before the new incident, a similar attack had already led to a US military response against targets in Iran. According to the responsible regional command Centcom, the US strikes had targeted air defense positions, drone storage facilities, and surveillance infrastructure.

The US demands free passage for all ships without fees. Talks on an end to the war and safe shipping are to be continued in Qatar.