Iran accused of striking 3 vessels near Hormuz

July 8, 2026

1–2 minutes

Summary

Qatar, Saudi Arabia accused Iran of attacking commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy shipments.

Why this matters

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global oil and gas trade, so reported attacks there can affect regional security and energy markets. The allegations also add pressure to already fragile U.S.-Iran negotiations.

Iran fired on three commercial vessels Tuesday in Omani territorial waters near the Strait of Hormuz, according to a U.S. official, who said the attacks violated the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding. One of the strikes had not previously been reported.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the Qatari-flagged liquefied natural gas tanker al-Rakiyat was struck while “passing near” the waterway. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said the attack was reported at 9:19 p.m. UTC Monday, or 1:19 a.m. Tuesday in the Persian Gulf.

The U.K. monitor said the vessel was 8 nautical miles east of Limah, Oman, when it was reportedly hit on its port side, causing a fire. It said no casualties or environmental impact had been reported.

Qatar blamed Iran, calling the attack a “grave and explicit violation of international law,” and said Tehran should “immediately halt all practices that affect the security of the region” or threaten international navigation. The ministry said it summoned Iran’s deputy ambassador and delivered a protest note demanding clarification.

Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency, citing unidentified sources, reported earlier that a Qatari tanker was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz “after ignoring repeated warnings…No official authority has yet confirmed or denied these reports.”

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry later said Iran also attacked one of its tankers, the crude oil carrier Wedyan, while it was transiting the strait. In a post on X, the ministry said Iran “bears full responsibility” for the strikes on the Saudi and Qatari vessels. The U.K. monitor said the ship was hit 16 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, on the Gulf of Oman.

The attacks came hours before President Donald Trump departed for a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where leaders were expected to discuss security in the strait.

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“To the veteran, it was silence,” Jim Fausone, managing partner of Legal Help for Veterans, told Stars and Stripes.

A 2023 VA report to Congress said 2,893 of 3,806 closed appeals reviewed required reactivation. The certified class covers appeals closed between Dec. 12, 1990, and Feb. 6, 2025.

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Under the proposed settlement, the VA would automatically review 28,258 files flagged as likely containing a timely substantive appeal and notify claimants if cases qualify for reactivation. Up to 64,599 additional claimants would receive letters and would need to request review.

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President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he considered a U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement “over” after overnight exchanges of fire, while warning the U.S. could carry out more strikes.

Speaking at a NATO summit in Turkey, Trump said the U.S. had “hit them very hard last night” and would “probably hit them hard again tonight.” He accused Iran of violating a June memorandum of understanding, or MoU, that called for an end to the conflict.

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OpenAI was founded in 2015 as a research-focused nonprofit and created a for-profit arm four years later to help fund the costs of developing AI systems.
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US

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The White House said Tuesday that the first “Freedom Fuel” gas station opened in Philadelphia and was selling gasoline for $3.47 a gallon, below the national average.

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North Carolina

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North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein on Wednesday vetoed House Bill 437, which would have allowed municipalities to regulate homeless encampments by moving people to designated spaces. Stein called the measure “poorly constructed” and said it would make it harder for homeless people to regain stability.

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