An Iranian cargo ship was struck near Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz early Sunday, leaving one person dead and four others injured, according to Iranian state media. Tehran blamed what it described as a “terrorist enemy” for the attack as security threats to shipping continue to intensify around two of the region’s most important maritime routes.
The incident has renewed attention on the Strait of Hormuz at a time when shipping through the Red Sea is also facing growing risks. Iran-backed Houthi forces fighting government troops in Yemen recently seized an island near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, another critical passage for international maritime trade.
Iran’s state news agency quoted the governor of Qeshm as saying that one person was killed and four wounded in the attack. The US military did not immediately comment. American forces have previously targeted Iranian-flagged vessels as part of their blockade of Iranian ports, while US warships have also faced threats from Iranian ballistic missiles.
Qeshm Island lies around 22 kilometres from the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas and holds strategic importance for Tehran’s efforts to exercise control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Hours before the incident, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian maintained a defiant position, declaring that Iran would not surrender or be forced into submission.
US President Donald Trump, however, claimed on Sunday that Tehran was eager to reach an agreement and was repeatedly contacting Washington. Speaking at his golf course in Doonbeg, Ireland, Trump later declined to confirm or deny whether the United States had carried out the strike on the Iranian cargo vessel.
Meanwhile, a planned regional meeting in Oman on the management of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been postponed. Iran had earlier announced that foreign ministers from regional countries would meet on Monday to discuss proposals developed by Tehran and Muscat.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said the talks had been delayed in the interest of reaching broader consensus. An Iranian foreign ministry official said Iran and Oman agreed to the postponement following requests from some regional countries.
Saudi Arabia has reportedly proposed amendments to the Iran-Oman arrangement. According to a Gulf official, Riyadh is concerned that any agreement governing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz could have long-term consequences for other Gulf Cooperation Council states.
Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains significantly reduced as attacks continue in waters that had long served as a major international shipping route before the United States and Israel launched the war against Iran on February 28.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said on Sunday that a vessel travelling through the strait had been struck by a projectile. It was not immediately clear whether this was the same vessel reported by Iran near Qeshm Island. The maritime monitor said the ship had suffered a major fire and local authorities were evacuating those aboard.
The United States maintains that significant quantities of oil are still leaving the Gulf, with its military assisting vessels navigating near Oman’s coastline despite the continuing security risks.
Even before the Oman meeting was postponed, regional participation remained uncertain. Iraq was the only country to have publicly confirmed its attendance, while Bahrain said it would stay away because it does not maintain diplomatic relations with Tehran.
Since the early stages of the conflict, Iran has proposed charging vessels fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has also suggested that ships entering the Persian Gulf should travel through Iranian waters, while outbound vessels would use routes passing partly through Iranian and partly through Omani waters.
The proposed Oman meeting had generated some optimism that Gulf countries could develop a collective position on the growing regional crisis. Gulf states have faced Iranian missile and drone attacks for months, although Tehran maintains that its strikes are directed at US military assets located in those countries.
Against this tense backdrop, President Pezeshkian said he held what he described as a constructive conversation with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi.
Iran has launched thousands of missiles and drones towards the United Arab Emirates, a close US ally, during the conflict. Pezeshkian said his discussion with the Abu Dhabi crown prince focused on addressing existing concerns, moving beyond past disagreements and exploring ways to build future relations.
