Iran Blamed for Tanker Attack in the Strait of Hormuz Near Oman

The Wall Street Journal reported, citing two senior American officials, that Iran was behind an attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz off Oman earlier Thursday. Officials said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps carried out the strike against the Singapore-flagged vessel as it passed through the waterway.

The incident comes just one week after the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the fighting and reopening vital shipping lanes in the Gulf. International officials said the attack appeared to be a clear Iranian attempt to test the limits of the new agreement, which is intended to safeguard freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most strategic sea routes.

According to Britain’s Maritime Trade Operations, the ship’s bridge structure was damaged, but no injuries were reported among the crew. The attack occurred only hours after the Iranian navy issued an official warning to vessels, saying passage through shipping lanes not preapproved by the regime in Tehran was forbidden.

The White House has not yet issued an official response, leaving the international community watching closely for the impact on the fragile deal between the two sides.