Iran launches missiles toward commercial vessels in Strait of Hormuz, Axios reports

Iran's Revolutionary Guards fired at least two missiles at commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Monday night, according to an Axios report citing two U.S. officials.

The report said two commercial ships sustained significant damage, although no casualties were reported.

In a separate incident, Britain's maritime security agency reported that a tanker caught fire after being struck by an unidentified projectile east of Limah, Oman, early Tuesday.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said the tanker was hit on its port side while sailing south about eight nautical miles (15 km) east of Limah, sparking a fire. It added that no injuries or environmental damage had been reported.

Reuters could not independently verify the Axios report or confirm whether the vessels mentioned in the report included the tanker cited by the UKMTO.

The U.S. Central Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The incidents have heightened concerns over the security of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway between Iran and Oman that carries roughly one-fifth of the world's oil consumption. Commercial shipping has faced growing threats since the conflict triggered by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, despite an interim agreement that included provisions for the safe passage of vessels.

Indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran concluded last week without any publicly announced breakthrough, even though a 60-day ceasefire had been intended to create room for diplomacy after the U.S. and Israeli strikes that ignited the conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Washington would either secure an agreement with Iran or "finish the job," reiterating the possibility of military action as Tehran continued to project defiance following the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

'Ready to fire at you'

The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that Iran's Revolutionary Guards had warned passing ships over maritime radio during the weekend that "our missiles and drones are ready to fire at you," citing an audio recording it had obtained.

According to the newspaper, one of the targeted vessels appeared to be Al Rekayyat, a liquefied natural gas tanker owned and managed by Nakilat, also known as Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd, one of the world's largest LNG shipping operators. The report said the vessel was struck on the port side above the engine room.

Quoting from the recording, the newspaper said: "Engine room fire and full of smoke. Unable to assess further damage. All crew are safe and mustered on the starboard side."

The tanker was reportedly near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf of Oman when the attack occurred.

Nakilat, QatarEnergy and Qatar's International Media Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent outside regular business hours.

The reported attacks come as investors closely monitor U.S.-Iran diplomacy and the security of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies, while assessing the recovery of Gulf oil exports.