Underwater Missile Strike Hits Iranian Vessel in Hormuz Strait

A self-propelled underwater missile struck an Iranian commercial cargo vessel off Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz early Sunday, September 13, 2026. The attack killed one civilian and injured four others. Hossein Amir-Teymouri, the governor of Qeshm Island, attributed the strike to the "American-Zionist enemy," while the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported the projectile caused a fire that required crew evacuations.

The incident occurred amid a six-month conflict that began in February 2026 following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian territory. The United States currently maintains a naval blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran has responded by targeting U.S. military facilities in Jordan and restricting traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump declined to confirm U.S. involvement in the ship strike, stating, "I don’t want to say," though he claimed Iran is eager to reach a deal.

Regional instability intensified as drone attacks launched from Iraq forced Saudi Arabia to temporarily close its East-West crude oil pipeline, pushing Brent crude prices above $100 a barrel. Simultaneously, the Panama-flagged tanker MT El Gaia was attacked off the coast of Oman, leaving one Indian crew member missing.

Diplomatic efforts stalled as Oman postponed a scheduled meeting of regional foreign ministers intended to discuss shipping management in the strait. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian maintained that the waterway would only reopen on the condition that the U.S. terminate its blockade, asserting that "Iran won’t surrender."