An Iranian missile struck a commercial cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz early Sunday local time, leading Iran's military to declare the waterway closed. This incident follows the collapse of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran and comes shortly after the Trump administration demanded Iran ensure safe passage for vessels in the strait.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated via Telegram that the ship was hit by warning shots aimed at vessels moving through an unauthorized route. The IRGC announced that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until further notice, citing U.S. interventions in the region.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported launching new strikes on Iran in response to the attack, identifying the targeted ship as the GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship. CENTCOM noted that a civilian crew member was missing and that the vessel was unable to continue its journey due to fire and significant damage.
In a post on X, CENTCOM stated that Iran had failed to adhere to a Memorandum of Understanding regarding previous attacks on commercial vessels. CENTCOM emphasized that the U.S. would continue to impose costs on Iran to prevent further attacks on civilian shipping.
The incident occurred shortly after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi concluded negotiations in Oman aimed at resolving tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. A diplomat indicated that Oman had proposed reopening shipping lanes before the attack on the vessel took place.